Prep and dig
After picking up your bareroots from the store, you’ll need to prep them for planting. Typically, a bareroot plant is placed in a bag of sawdust to help retain moisture; however, sawdust isn’t good for planting. Because of this, you’ll need to shake the sawdust from the roots prior to planting.
Make sure you keep the sawdust away from your planting area, though. Removing the sawdust over a large container can make this process cleaner. Once you’re done, it’s time to dig your hole. If you’re not sure how big to make your hole, a good rule of thumb is twice as wide and twice as deep as the plant’s roots.
Mix and fill
As you’re digging, keep the dirt from the hole nearby — you’ll need it for this step. Grab some planting mix and combine it with your dirt to create a 50/50 mixture. (If you’re wondering how much planting mix you need to use, check out our easy-to-use amendment calculator, Planting Pal.)
Once your mixture is created, begin filling in your hole. Plant 1” above ground level. However, before all the mixture is added back to the hole, add a slow-release fertilizer like NutriPak. (You can also use Planting Pal to identify what your local garden center recommends for the job.)
Add the rest of the mixture and then gently step on the area to remove any air bubbles.
Treat and soak
After you’ve filled the hole back in, you’ll want to make sure your freshly planted bareroot has everything it needs to thrive in its new environment. You can guarantee this by adding a soil treatment like GardenMAX to the top of the hole (again … check out Planting Pal to receive more customized amendment recommendations).
Once your soil treatment is added, it’s time to soak the planting area. Continue adding water until you’ve reached a mud-like consistency.
Final Thoughts
Before you start planting your bareroot, make sure you have everything you need to create a healthy environment for your plant. With the right materials, you can follow the steps on this guide and successfully grow a beautiful new plant.
If you have questions on what amendments you need based on your location or if you’re simply wondering how much of a specific amendment you need, don’t forget to check out Planting Pal.
Planting Pal is an amendment calculator that uses the recommendations of local garden centers to get you the right product and quantities you need to successfully plant. Simply input your location and your measurements and Planting Pal will do the rest of the work for you — no math, no guessing, no grey areas.
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