How to Plant Bare Root Shrubs and Roses

Bare root shrubs and roses are sold with no soil around their roots. They are dug by the nursery in late fall or early spring (plants dug in fall are over-wintered in coolers) and are often sold by mail-order retailers. They are an economical way to get unique or hard-to-find species and cultivars.

Bare root plants are shipped in the early spring and are usually delivered to your door at the appropriate time of the year based on your location and USDA Hardiness Zone. Bare root shrubs must be planted in spring before growth begins.

Care Before Planting  |  Planting  |  Video on Planting  |  Care After Planting  |  More Information

Care Before Planting

Inspect Plants on Arrival

Open and inspect bare root shrubs as soon as they arrive. They should be in good condition with firm, heavy roots that are not dry or brittle.  The packing material around the roots (usually coarse sphagnum moss) should be damp; not dripping wet or completely dry.  Buds should be green and firm.  There should be no obvious signs of mold or freezing damage.  Shrubs should not have mushy roots, foul odors, or many broken stems or roots.

Store Appropriately if Needed

Plant bare root shrubs as soon as possible after receiving them. If planting has to be delayed, store them in a cool, non-freezing location at around 40°F, such as a refrigerator, unheated garage, or root cellar.  Keep the packing material around the roots and ensure it is damp but not wet.  The packing material should feel like a wrung out sponge.  While in storage, moisten packing materials as needed.  Do not let any part of the bare root shrub dry out, especially the root system. 

Planting

Plant bare root shrubs, including roses, as soon as possible before spring growth begins.

1. Prior to planting, soak the shrubs’ roots in a bucket of water for one to two hours. Also, prune off damaged or broken roots.
2. When ready to plant, dig a hole that is two to two-and-a-half times wider than the spread of the shrub’s root system.
3. The depth of the hole is determined by the location of the plants roots.
   • Identify the base of the stem by locating where the uppermost roots attach to the stem.  These uppermost roots will be placed just below the soil level.
   • The depth of the hole should be deep enough to place the shrub at a level in the ground that puts the uppermost roots just below the soil surface and allows for the remainder of the root mass to fit comfortably in the hole.
   • Some roses, such as hybrid tea, grandiflora, and floribunda types, are grafted.  In Iowa, the bud/graft union (denoted by a knob or crook in the plant stem) should be planted 2 to 4 inches below the soil surface. This helps protect the rose from harsh winter weather. The hole depth for these roses should be deep enough to accommodate the root system and bury the graft union at the appropriate depth.
4. Build a cone-shaped mound of soil in the center of the hole.
5. Place the shrub on top of the mound. Spread the roots evenly over the mound.
6. Begin backfilling with the original soil.
   • Do not amend the soil with compost, sphagnum moss, sand, or other soil amendments.
   • The soil that comes out of the planting hole should go back into the hole.
   • As you backfill, firm the soil in the hole with your hands.
7. Finally, water the shrub thoroughly.

Care After Planting

Water shrubs as needed throughout the first growing season until fully established.  Check plants once or twice a week and water when the soil around the roots is dry.  Reduce watering frequency as trees become more established later in the growing season.  Supplemental water may be needed in the second and third growing seasons if conditions are dry. 

Mound the soil into a ring around the tree's root zone to make watering easier.  The ring allows water to stay in place and soak in around the rooting zone rather than running off while watering. 

Place mulch around the base of the tree to help conserve soil moisture and reduce competition from weeds. 

More Information

• How to Plant Bare Root Plants
• Growing Roses in Iowa
• How to Protect Trees and Shrubs from Animal Damage Over Winter
• How to Determine Plant Quantity for Planting Beds
• How to Determine the Amount of Mulch Needed for a Garden Bed
• Propagating Shrubs and Trees from Softwood Cuttings
• Proper Time to Prune Trees and Shrubs
• Your Complete Guide to Pruning Trees and Shrubs

Photo credit: Paul Maguire/AdobeStock