Bare Root Fruit Tree Care

Let’s get that Bare Root Tree in the ground or in a container!

• Remove all packaging and soak the plant in a bucket of water for 1 hour.
• Dig a hole, wider than seems necessary, so the roots can grow outward without crowding. Remove any grass within a 3-foot circular area.
• Plant the tree at the same depth it stood in the nursery, with plenty of room for the roots. Partially fill the hole, firming the soil around the lower roots. Do not add soil amendments such as peat or bark. Do not use fertilizer, potting soil, or chemicals on your new trees.
• Shovel in the remaining soil. It should be firmly but not tightly packed. Once the hole is filled with soil, water, water, water.
• After the water has soaked in, spread protective mulch two inches deep in a 3-foot diameter area around the base of the tree, but not touching the trunk.
• The soil and mulch around your trees should be kept moist but not soggy. During dry weather, generously water the tree every 7 to 10 days during the first year. Water slowly at the dripline.