Bare-Root Plants: A Gardening Bargain Print E-mail
Tips for Planting Bare-root Fruit Trees and Roses by Kathy Nichols
Bare-root plants aren't too impressive at first glance. They're large leafless sticks with a knobby end wrapped in plastic, giving little hint as to what they might become after planting.

Lined up in rows at local nurseries, bare-root trees and roses may look somewhat mysterious to the uninitiated. But what the bare roots lack now in attractiveness, they make up for in several other ways.

Savvy gardeners know that bare roots are not only a bargain, they also tend to perform better than their potted counterparts. That's because they have sturdier roots and aren't pot bound. Bare-root plants are usually less expensive, too, because they are not as heavy as plants in pots, and therefore are cheaper and easier to ship.

Bare-root roses, fruit trees, and other perennials can be found now at garden stores, and in California, January and February is when the selection is good and the plants are still fresh from the shippers.

Since most bare roots are edible plants, they're popular with home gardeners, said Orchard Supply Hardware nursery buyer Kathy Santos.

"People really desire them," she said, noting that in the past 15 months, demand has risen for any kind of fruit or vegetable, perhaps because thrifty gardeners people are trying to save money by growing their own produce.

Some nurseries, like OSH, now offer ultra-dwarf fruit trees, which only grow to be 8 to 10 feet tall. The smaller-sized trees produce the same delicious fruit as their bigger brothers, but are easier to pick and maintain. They also fit more easily into small back yards.

Why are bare roots so bare? They're in a dormant or semi-dormant state, but inside, they're bursting with life.

"They grow really fast initially," notes Santos.

To get started with bare-root plants, choose those that have good sturdy stems which feel hard to the touch, not shriveled or limp. Before buying, tou should already have a place in mind for it, since you will want to plant it as soon as possible after you get it home.

A location that gets full sun is best, Santos said, and homeowners should try to anticipate the size of the mature tree or rosebush.