Bare Root Plants

Bare root plants are just that.  Often when you order perennials they arrive as a twisted mass of roots and you may or may not see any green growth on them.  Don’t panic. This is not a mistake and your plants have not died in the mail.  They are just dormant.  Mail order companies have become excellent at shipping their plants, and most likely your bare root plants have arrived when the time is appropriate for planting them. They should, however, be planted as soon as possible after you receive them.

If for some reason you can’t, though (the mail doesn’t take it into account that you have other obligations!), at least take the time to unwrap your plants and soak them for about 30 minutes if they look dry.  If they are still moist, you don’t need to do this, but you do need to keep them damp until you can plant them. 

I usually sprinkle water on the packing material they’re in, usually moss or mulch, and wrap them in paper towels which I sprinkle again and then wrap them in a plastic bag. Leave them this way until you can get them in the ground. In the meantime put them in a cool, dark place.

On the day you are planting your bare root perennials, prepare your site first.  Holes should be approximately twice as wide and deep as your roots. Once you’ve dug your hole amend it first with compost, aged manure or a mixture of peat moss and potting soil.

Now it’s time to figure out how exactly to plant the tangle of roots that is looking a little intimidating right now.  First, gently shake some of the packing material off and then carefully untangle what you can.  Look closely for any green shoots or dried stalks that would identify the crown (top of your plant).

Then try to notice if the roots are trying to grow downward or sideways.  This will help you when you’re putting your roots into their holes. Now hold your bare root plants in the hole and fan out the bottom in the way it wants to grow. Fill in with soil under and around your plant until the crown is just slightly above the surface of the ground.   Water well at this point and then add more soil where the hole has settled and to build up a dam around your planting hole.

Because bare root perennials are dormant, they can be planted sooner than container plants which is why they are shipped in early spring.  The tips (pips) of your perennials already in the ground may just be starting to peak out of the soil, and this is helpful to know so you know where you can plant your new bare root perennials.

Early spring is also a good time to divide many of the perennials that you already have.  The general rule of thumb is to divide perennials that bloom in mid or late summer now and divide early spring bloomers right after they bloom.

Perennials do not need dividing every year and some can go for long periods before it’s necessary, but you’ll probably know when it’s time.  One tell-tale sign is a plant whose center has died out, but is growing well in a ring around what was once the middle.

Another way to recognize a perennial that needs dividing is if you’ve noticed that your plant doesn’t have has many flowers as it once did.  Some perennials lose vitality after a few years and when they flower less they benefit from being split up.

Even if a perennial doesn’t seem to need it, sometimes they just overgrow their allotted space. You’re not hurting your plant to divide it. It is an economical way also, to increase the number of plants that you have. If you are trying to create a matching border of perennials this is probably a really good way to do it.

The season is upon us.  Very soon your bare root perennials will be arriving, you’ll be buying new ones in containers, or you’ll be dividing some of the ones you already own. Whatever the case, it's time to don your gardening gloves and get busy!  Enjoy!