Landscapers, gardeners and home-owners enjoy planting bare-root trees in the winter for a number of compelling reasons. In the winter months, from late fall through early spring in most regions, the prime time to plant bare-root trees is during this time of year.
Fresh saplings or liners, delivered without roots, provide a variety of advantages, from savings on costs to better establishment. Winter planting gives the trees an opportunity to blend in and give long-term health and growth benefits. In this post, I break down the benefits more in detail and discuss why it’s best to purchase bare-root trees during winter.
Cost-Effectiveness Of Planting Bare Root Plants
One of the most compelling reasons to plant bare-root trees is because they’re cheap. The fact that they are sold without any containers or soil weighs down shipping and handling considerably. It’s a great value for anyone who wants to plant more than one tree, whether it’s for reforestation, orchard management or landscape planting.
Nurseries are able to stock more bare-root trees in fewer spaces, saving customers significant costs. Bare-root trees tend to be on sale in nurseries in the winter, so there’s always a wide variety to choose from. Such abundance during a winter months coincides with the year’s lowest prices, which further stimulates planting.
Enhanced Root Establishment Bare root planting in the winter time provides a distinct advantage – an extra period of growth before the heat of summer takes hold. In winter, the trees lie dormant, conserving energy that would otherwise be invested in above-ground regeneration.
This allows them to concentrate on root growth, preparing the ground for robust growth when it’s warmer out. This soil stays wetter during the winters, particularly where it is frequently raining or snowmelting. This steady moisture keeps the roots nourished and stimulates them to spread out into the soil.
By spring, they are ripe for rapid growth, outgrowing container-grown varieties by a wide margin. Easier Handling and Planting Trees without a root are lightweight and easier to handle, making planting easy. Without the additional weight of soil or a big box, the trees can be moved and planted with very little effort. This handling flexibility is particularly beneficial in big-scale projects or rugged terrain.
When you plant bare-root trees in winter, it also saves you the tedious work of preparing moist, summer soil for planting. Even in the coldest regions, ground will freeze, but it’s easier to work in winter than at the height of a summer drought. With planting sites planned out, even frost-prone places can be used for bare-root planting.
Improved Adaptability and Growth With Bare Root Trees
Bare-root trees respond better to their new home than container trees. Planting a tree in a pot makes its roots ensconced or "pot-bound," making it less likely to spread once planted. Bare-root trees, in contrast, have roots straightened out and freed up at planting. This allows them to extend unimpeded into the underlying soils and develop healthier roots over time. Winter planting follows the trees’ own natural rhythm, enabling them to gradually adapt to their new surroundings.
The coolness spares the tree from shock, since there is not much need for vigour in hibernation. By the time spring comes, the tree is ready to devote energy to branching out and developing.
Lower Environmental Stress
Winter planting reduces the tree’s stress on the environment. Temperature and moisture are serious stresses on new trees, and can result in transplant shock or tree failure. Planting in winter cuts out all these stressors, giving the tree enough time to acclimatise before summer comes knocking. Further, insects and diseases tend to remain dormant in the colder months, making infestations or infections easier during the early stages of establishment.
This provides an advantage for bare root trees because they can focus entirely on rooting and adjusting to the new environment without being in any danger.
Versatility Across Bare Root Plant Species
Bare-root planting is suitable for a wide variety of trees, such as fruit trees, shade trees, and ornamental trees. Winter planting lets you select the trees that work best for your situation, whether you want to start an orchard or simply update your backyard with native plants. Trees, particularly deciduous trees, are best rooted in the winter. It’s their dormancy that allows them to be less stressed when transplanted, and to be adapted very quickly in spring.
Even evergreens, if grown well, will benefit from wintering in warmer climates. Eco-Friendly Option There are no environmental impacts associated with bare-root trees. They don’t require soil or containers, which helps to eliminate waste and the carbon footprint of shipping. Typically, bare-root trees are planted locally or regionally, which helps to reduce their environmental footprint. By fitting into nature, winter planting supports sustainability.
It gives gardeners and landscapers the ability to use every tree’s potential, without overwatering, fertilising, or transplanting them again. Opportunities for Large-Scale Projects Bare-root trees are affordable and easy to plant, and therefore ideal for large-scale projects. The best time to replant, restore habitat, and plant trees is winter. For landowners and conservationists, planting on a large scale during the summer can deliver many environmental advantages: biodiversity, healthy soils, and carbon capture.
Bareroot For Sustainability & Restoration
Availability of Support and Resources Finally, winter planting reveals an abundance of resources. Garden centres and nursery owners tend to be busier at this time and are therefore more willing to give advice and assistance. Be it choosing the right species, understanding proper planting practices, or being aware of your local soil, winter is a good time to bring this wisdom into play.
Ultimately, planting bare-root trees in winter is economical, practical, and sustainable. The advantages are numerous, from quicker root development to lighter cultivation and reduced stress on the environment. Winter planters work in sync with the trees’ natural rest, giving them the best possible start to life on their new site. Bare root trees are the perfect solution for homeowners who want to make a splash in their gardens or environmentalists who have a large-scale restoration project.
