What are Bare-Root Plants
Bare-root plants are shipped without a container or soil surrounding their roots. This can include corms, bulbs, tubers, fleshy roots of perennials, and roots of woody trees and shrubs. We typically pack roots in a plastic bag surrounded with a material to maintain sufficient moisture to keep the crown from desiccating during transit.
About Heronswood Bare-Root Plants
Our bare-root plants are field or nursery grown, and are sourced using sustainable methods. No Heronswood plants, bare-root or otherwise are knowingly offered for sale if they are harvested from wild stock.
Corm, bulb or root size can vary greatly within a genus or species depending solely on the vigor of the cultivar or overall size of the mature plant.
Upon Arrival
If you are unable to immediately plant your bare-root plants, keep them in a cold, dark location. A refrigerator is ideal. Cooling will help to inhibit or slow the growth until you are ready to plant. DO NOT FREEZE. Temperatures below 32 degrees will cause your bare-root plants to perish. Roots should not be soaked or put into water- this will cause irreparable damage.
Planting Your Bare-Root Plants
Observe the utmost care in handling your newly arrived bare-root plants. Their roots are fragile and can be damaged easily.
Roots can be planted directly into prepared garden soil.
- Dig a hole large enough to accommodate the bare-root plant. Ensure the roots are not overly crowded in the hole.
- Set the plant so that the crown (where the roots converge) is at or just below the soil surface. If buried too deeply, the crown can easily rot.
- Backfill the hole while gently compressing the soil around the roots.
- Water well for the next 7-10 days allowing the soil to dry between waterings.
From this point forward, the bare-root plants can be treated in a similar fashion to the Heronswood plants that arrived in containers.