How to plant bare root trees: keep the roots damp and soak them for a few hours. Dig a hole wider than the roots and set the tree on a small soil mound, trunk flare at ground level. Backfill with the soil you dug out, water deeply, and mulch. Plant while the tree is dormant.
Tennessee Wholesale Nursery is a family-owned wholesale nursery in Altamont, Tennessee, near McMinnville. We grow trees, shrubs, perennials, wetland and native plants, and ship many trees bare-root. This guide covers native shade trees and seedlings, from the day the box arrives to the end of the first summer.
How to plant bare root trees starts with dormant stock
A bare-root tree is dug from the field while it is dormant, meaning resting for winter with no leaves. The soil is shaken off, so the roots are bare. That makes the tree light and easy to pack.
A dormant tree is not growing, so it can handle the trip. The catch is that bare roots dry out fast. Everything in this guide is about keeping them moist until they are in the ground. For how we pack and ship bare-root stock, see our bare-root information page.
When to plant bare root trees in zone 7
Plant while the tree is dormant and the ground can be worked. In zone 7, that means two windows:
- Late fall to early winter, roughly November and December in zone 7, after the leaves drop. Mild soil lets roots settle before spring.
- Late winter to early spring, roughly late February through March in zone 7, before the buds open.
Skip days when the soil is frozen or soggy. If you can squeeze a handful into a wet ball that drips, wait a few days.
The day the box arrives
Open the box the day it comes. Then work through these steps:
- Check the roots. They should feel damp. If they look dry, soak them right away.
- Keep them cool and damp. Iowa State University suggests storing bare-root trees near 40°F, with the packing kept damp but not wet (Iowa State Extension guide). An unheated garage or shed works. Never leave roots in sun or wind.
- Trim damaged roots. Cut off broken or torn root ends with clean pruners.
- Soak before planting. Set the roots in a bucket of water for a few hours. Iowa State says one to two hours. The Arbor Day Foundation says 3 to 6. Do not leave them soaking for days.
- Heel in if you must wait. If planting is more than a few days off, lay the trees in a shallow trench. Cover the roots with moist soil until planting day.
Our planting instructions page has the steps we give with every order. Warranty terms are on our shipping and warranty page.
How to plant bare root trees, step by step
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Pick and clear the spot
Choose a spot that suits the tree's light and soil needs. Clear grass and weeds in a circle about 3 feet across, as the Arbor Day Foundation advises. Grass competes with young roots for water.
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Dig a wide, shallow hole
For a tree with a spread of roots, dig two to two-and-a-half times wider than the roots reach. Dig only as deep as the roots, from the trunk flare down. The trunk flare is where the trunk widens at the base.
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Build a small mound
Pile loose soil in the center of the hole. Set the tree on top and drape the roots down and out over the mound.
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Set the flare at ground level
Lay a shovel handle across the hole. The trunk flare should sit at that line, not below it. Plant at the same depth the tree grew in the nursery.
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Backfill with the soil you dug
Fill in with the same soil, breaking up clods. Firm it gently as you go. Pack it firmly but not tightly. Skip potting soil and fertilizer in the hole.
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Water deeply
Soak the hole so the soil settles around the roots and pushes out air pockets. Top up any soil that sinks.
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Mulch, but not against the trunk
Spread mulch about 2 inches deep in a 3-foot circle. Keep it from touching the trunk.
The mound method above is for trees with roots that spread out. Small seedlings, like our 6 to 24 inch oak and maple seedlings, have roots that hang mostly straight down. For those, the Arbor Day Foundation bare-root guide calls for a hole about 1 foot wide and 1 inch deeper than the roots. Set the seedling at the depth it grew. Keep the roots straight down, never bent up into a J shape.
First-year care for bare-root trees
- Water through dry spells. Arbor Day suggests every 7 to 10 days in dry weather in the first year. Keep soil moist, not soggy. Iowa State says check once or twice a week and water when the soil is dry.
- Hold off on fertilizer. Arbor Day warns against fertilizer, potting soil or chemicals on young seedlings.
- Stake only if needed. Iowa State notes bare-root trees often need staking the first year. Use soft, flexible ties. Take them off the next spring.
- Keep the mulch ring weed-free. Top it up as it breaks down.
Which is the most common mistake made in tree planting?
Planting too deep is the big one. A buried trunk flare stays wet and can rot, and roots end up starved of air. Keep the flare at ground level. Other mistakes to avoid:
- Letting the roots dry out between the box and the hole.
- Digging a narrow, deep hole instead of a wide, shallow one.
- Bending long roots to fit a small hole.
- Filling the hole with potting soil or fertilizer.
- Piling mulch against the trunk.
- Planting after the buds have opened.
Is it better to plant bare root or potted plants?
Both grow well when planted right. Bare root suits planting many trees at once, like a windbreak, a woodlot or a stream bank. Potted trees suit planting outside the dormant season.
| What to weigh | Bare-root trees | Potted trees |
|---|---|---|
| Weight | Light, easy to ship and carry | Heavier and bulkier |
| Planting season | Only while dormant | A longer season |
| Roots | Go straight into your soil, no pot circling | Can circle inside the pot |
| Care on arrival | Roots dry out fast; plant soon | Roots stay protected in soil |
| Best for | Planting many trees at once | A few trees, planted off-season |
Native trees we ship bare-root
These native trees and seedlings come from our fields in Tennessee:
- Red Maple Tree, sold by height from 1 to 4 feet.
- Sugar Maple Seedlings, rated for zones 3 to 9.
- River Birch Tree, from small 6-inch stock up to 4 feet.
- Red Oak Seedlings, sold in lots of 100 or more.
- White Oak Seedlings, rated for zones 3 to 9.
- Redbud Trees, rated for zones 4 to 9.
See the full range in our trees collection and our seedlings collection.
Printable bare-root planting checklist
- ☐ Open the box the day it arrives and check the roots are damp.
- ☐ Store cool and damp, out of sun and wind.
- ☐ Trim broken roots.
- ☐ Soak roots for a few hours before planting.
- ☐ Clear a 3-foot circle of grass.
- ☐ Trees: dig wide, only as deep as the roots, over a soil mound.
- ☐ Seedlings: dig about 1 foot wide, roots hanging straight down.
- ☐ Set the trunk flare at ground level.
- ☐ Backfill with your own soil, no fertilizer.
- ☐ Water deeply and add 2 inches of mulch, off the trunk.
- ☐ Water through dry spells all first year.
Bare-root tree questions
What are the disadvantages of bare root trees?
They must be planted while dormant, so the planting window is short. Bare roots dry out quickly, so you need to plant soon after the box arrives or store the trees cool and damp. If you cannot plant within a few days, heel them into moist soil in a shady spot until you can.
When to plant bare root trees in zone 8?
Plant while the tree is dormant and the soil is workable. In mild zone 8 winters, that is usually from leaf drop in late fall until just before the buds open in late winter. Skip days when the ground is soggy, and get trees in before spring growth starts.
