What are Bare Root Plants?

Using bare root plants to add to your garden borders and fruit gardens is an economical way to add some of the larger plants to your garden. Plants available as bare root specimens include:-

Hedging, including box and native species bundles
Trees, including pleached trees and larger plants
Fruit trees
Fruit bushes
Roses
Shrubs, including both larger types, for example Rhododendron and small, such as Santolina

It is particularly cost effective if you need a lot of new large plants, perhaps as part of a garden design. Bare root plants are generally cheaper to purchase than container grown plants, especially when sold in bundles.

Is bare root the same as root ball?

There are four ways in which plants are sold to the trade and to the public. These are as –

Bare root
Root ball
Containerised or potted
Pot grown

The differences are as follows –

Bare root plants are grown in the field, then dug up when dormant. They will have minimal soil, if any, around the roots, so these will be wrapped in straw, hessian, shredded paper, etc to protect them.

Ball rooted plants are where the tree or shrub has been dug up with its surrounding soil. This protects the roots but does make the plant heavier to transport. Its more often used for larger trees and shrubs, but can be used for any size. The root ball will be wrapped in hessian, netting etc to give further protection.

Containerised or potted, for example, living Christmas trees which will have been grown in the field and then potted up for the Christmas market.

Container grown plants are, as the name suggests, have been grown from seed, seedling or young plant in a container or plant pot. They may have been transplanted into a larger pot as the plant grows.

christmas tree, glass beads, chimney pot, unusual containers for planting, quirky planters, container gardens

What plants can be bought as bare root?

The range of plants available as bare rooted specimens is impressive. Bare root shrubs which are particularly popular are roses. Specialist rose growers stock a much larger selection of varieties of bare root roses, than they do potted roses. Whether you’d like a full-on rose garden or are creating a new mixed border, its worth a look.

Bare root fruit bushes and fruit trees are another area where it’s easy to find a good range of both modern and older varieties. If you need to replace hedges, buying bare root instant hedging (which are the larger plants) is substantially cheaper than buying them in troughs during the growing season. Even with smaller hedging plants, the price saving is good.

Bare root plants are generally thought of as being deciduous, so that the plants are dormant and leaf free when they’re purchased and planted. However, evergreen shrubs, box for topiary for example, are also available. Indeed, hedging plants and topiary are a good buy as a considerable quantity is often needed, so the savings over container grown plants can be considerable. So yes, you could have that knot garden without breaking the bank!

When can I buy them?

Order as early as you can to get a wide choice. Many nurseries have their bare root plant lists out as early as August for November – March delivery. Planning in advance is advisable if if you want particular plants, so that you can get your order in early.

But if you like to be spontaneous, you might like to know that not all the best plants will have gone by Christmas. Which is useful as they can make good present for gardeners.

Have you an eye for a bargain? Are you bothered about which bare root rose variety you have so long as it’s red and scented? Then February can be a good time to buy. The end of winter is also a good time to purchase ‘job lots’ as nurseries clear their stock. Mixed native hedging packs of hawthorn, dogwood, elder, blackthorn can be found for the price of a theatre ticket or a meal out.

When to plant bare root plants

The planting of bare root plants starts in late autumn, when they’re first delivered. It continues through the winter months, as long as the ground isn’t hard with frost or overly waterlogged. Planting ends during spring as trees come back into leaf. Deciduous shrubs and trees are best planted during autumn and winter. Evergreens do well planted in winter and early spring.

How to care for bare root plants when you get them

Try to have a prepared spot ready for them in the garden. It needn’t be their final planting place. A holding bed where they would be ‘heeled in’ – planted temporarily – is fine.

When your purchases arrive, unwrap straight away and check for any damage.
Cut off any dead stems, but be sure they are dead and not merely dormant!
Stand your newly purchased bare root shrubs into water for a couple of hours before planting or re-packing them. Although most firms are good about wrapping the roots in a moist environment, they are still likely to be slightly dehydrated from their journey.

If you’re not able to ‘heel in’ your bare root plants, perhaps because the ground is frosted, then wrap them back up again. Keep them frost free until you are able to plant. Check on them every day or two. They may need more moisture, but equally won’t want to have their roots sitting in water.

live plants enclosed - packaging for bare root trees and bare root bushes

bare root trees, straw packaging to protect trees in transit

How to plant bare root plants

Preparation and planting them is easy. Dig your hole or trench, making sure there is sufficient room for the roots. Add organic matter to the base and lightly fork into the soil. Place your bare rooted plant into the hole and check the depth. If the plant is a grafted one, like many roses and fruit trees, the graft needs to be above ground.

If you’re planting a tree other than an espalier fruit tree it is likely to need staking to give it support until the root system develops.

The time to do this is when you’ve placed the tree in the planting hole but before you fill it in with soil. This enables you to see where the tree roots are so you won’t drive the stake through them.

Position the stake at an angle and so that the tree will bend away from it in the wind. Use the correct tie so as not to damage the bark; string is not an adequate substitute.

Fill in the hole, making sure the soil gets between the roots and there are no air pockets. These could cause the plant to sink and may increase the likelihood of frost damage. Giving the tree or shrub a little shake as you fill in the soil helps to distribute the soil. If your soil is not the best quality, then mix it with more organic matter before using it to fill the planting hole.

I also add mycorrhizal fungi to the planting hole. This ‘friendly’ fungi helps to develop a strong root system and healthy plants and is found naturally in the wild. It has now been developed for use in gardens is used by many gardeners and horticulturists. Its pretty easy to find in garden centres, plant nurseries and online.

Caring for your bare root plants after planting

Finish off your planting by giving your new bare root plants a drink and add organic mulch around the stem or trunk. When planting bare rooted shrubs and trees in the autumn, a thicker layer of newspaper or compost mulch will help protect more shallow rooted shrubs from winter frost.

Check on your newly planted bare root specimens until they’re established. This will be throughout their first season, or longer if a larger tree or shrub was planted.
You will see growth in the spring, and blossom.
Fruit trees and fruit bushes shouldn’t be allowed to develop much of a crop in their first year. It’s more important that they spend this time developing a good root system.

During the winter heavy rain and flooding can be a major problem and may continue to be an issue into the spring. As we have been experiencing in the last decade or so. However, you can plant your bare rooted shrubs and trees in a wet, sodden soil. Add plenty of extra drainage in the form of grit in the bottom of the planting hole and also coarse textured organic matter. If the ground is really water logged it would be better to temporarily plant into a large pot or raised beds.

quince tree in a bucket, RHS Chelsea flower show, edible gardens

and finally

If you would like Plews to design a mini orchard, kitchen garden, knot garden or wildlife hedging using bare root plants in a planting design for part of your existing garden, or to include any of these as part of a full garden design, do get in touch. But if some advice is what you’re after rather, Plews offers garden consultancy services.

And for help with getting to grip with growing your own garden, why not check out the small group Gardening Workshops, which I’ll be running in my own garden from January 2025.

But if you’d prefer hands-on personal help from yours truly, with a mix of practical sessions and theory ask about our bespoke Gardening Lessons and Courses where your classroom is actually your own garden. Click this link for the pdf download for more info. In these lessons I can help you learn gardening basics, and also show you how to plan an ornamental border or kitchen garden.

For further gardening advice and inspiration, ideas for kitchen gardens, herb gardens, pest resistant gardens and more, check out Plews Potting Shed blogs, including the selection below and our monthly Tipsheet You could also come and find us on Instagram Pinterest and Facebook

And on that note, you can have a peek at the progress of my garden renovation, Spitfires and Slow Worms, on Instagram and Facebook You’ll get to see it in person if you come to the Gardening Workshops, I’m at the finalising of dates stage for weekday and weekend slots for January – April, so keep an eye on the website and social media for an update.

And for those who like to know these things…

This is an updated and longer version of an article originally written at the beginning of 2014. The winter of 2013 – 2014 saw widespread and persistent flooding across much of the UK. Although the winter of 2023 -24 was the eighth wettest on record.