How to Plant a Bare-Root Fruit Tree

Bare-root fruit trees look like sticks when first planted.

Bare-root fruit trees do not resemble the trees that they will eventually grow into at all. In fact, a bare-root tree often looks like a brown stick. The term "bare root" means that the fruit tree is not planted in soil, such as a pot or in a burlap sack. Instead, the entire tree is exposed. Because bare-root fruit tees have no established root system, planting them requires special considerations. In particular, you must provide protection from wind damage.

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Shovel
• Wooden stakes
• Hammer
• String or tree ties
• Mulch

Instructions

1. Fill a bucket 3/4 full of water and place the root ends of the bare-root fruit tree into the water. Allow the roots to soak for 12 to 24 hours.

2. Look for a well-drained planting location that is on a ridge or slope. Read the plant label on your particular fruit tree variety for other planting site considerations, which vary widely between types of trees.

3. Dig a hole in the ground that is at least 3 feet wide by 3 feet deep. Hit the sides of the hole gently with the shovel blade so that they are loose and not smooth, which makes it difficult for the tree roots to grow.

4. Remove the bare root fruit tree from the bucket of water and examine the trunk 1 to 2 inches above the roots. You should see a visible ridge in the trunk which is where it was grafted to the root stock.

5. Place the bare root fruit tree into the hole, making sure to keep the graft ridge 3 inches above the surface of the ground. If needed, place some soil into the bottom of the hole. Slowly backfill the hole with the additional soil and press it down firmly with your hands until the tree stands upright by itself.

6. Place a 4- to 5-foot-long wooden stake into the ground 1 to 2 feet away from the base of the tree. Pound the stake into the ground using a hammer. Wrap a piece of string or a tree tie around the stake and the tree to form a loop. Tie the loose ends of the string into a knot near the stake to hold the newly planted tree upright during periods of wind and heavy rain.

7. Spread a 3- to 4-inch-thick layer of mulch around the base of the fruit tree in a circular pattern to help keep moisture near the roots.

8. Water the soil around the fruit tree until it is moist to a 12-inch depth.

References

• Sandy Bar Ranch & Nursery: Caring For Bare Root Fruit Trees
• Dave Wilson Nursery: To Everything There is a Season