Scott, that is interesting about the soil amendments and root grow within the initial hole. I wonder if you could use this to your advantage on trees that tend to have really expansive roots and you want to limit their growth so they don't damage items like sidewalks or septic tanks.
I just moved to a different environment. I rehabbed an orchard and trout farm at my old house. So I know a little. About that environment. Now I'm in wet clay and rocks beside a creek. Full to partial south sun. And I just cleared about 2 acres of briars and scrub left over from clear cutting 40 yrs ago that I intend to put an orchard on. If anybody has the time I would much appreciate a little guidance. I've got 4 weeping willows coming tomorrow bare root to plant and learn from, and because they were my mom's favorite. Any help will be much appreciated.
I have 375 trees to plant soon for a hedge, all bare root, blackthorn, hawthorn, beech and hazel mix. A little bone meal added can help with root growth, but no other ammendments like you say. Still cold here so i should get them in before things warm up.
@@rubylace9963 It depends on what kind of trees and the size of them. Also if they are bare root or cell grown, bare root should be planted only in months with an "R" in its name...sept thro april in the temperate northern hemisphere. Cell grown plant anytime the soil is not frozen.
@@norton750cc I live in Canada and our spring starts a little later than most. Shelterbelt companies ship the trees in May but this May was hotter than most. Did all of your trees survive? I'm praying that mine do as that was a lot of work 😁
@@rubylace9963 Absolutely wonderful results, they are doing great, hawthorn first to kick into leaf, hazel next then blackthorn, last is beech, they are leafing up now. Keep watering in dry spells until their roots get deeper.
Hi Gardener Scott. I just planted a "stick" of a cherry tree. We're not past frosty days yet. Should I give a cut on the top or leave alone? When to cut or prune newly planted bare root trees? Thanks & great info as always GS.
Wonderful video! Thank you. What are your thoughts on using tree protector/sleeves? I've seen it mentioned that this its important to keep mice, voles or rabbits from eating the bark. We have many mice, rabbits and deer on our property. Thank you.
How would you water the bare rooted tree after planting? I just planted it 2 days before. My soil is quite dense clay except the tree hole. I ended up to add some top soil in the tree hole since the soil was so hard to break despite your advice... Thanks!
I water every two or three days in the beginning by soaking the soil. You may not need to water as often with clay soil so check the moisture level and try to keep it moist.
What would you suggest for compacted desert rocky alkaline clay soil? I am surrounded by orchards but live on a rocky hillside in a forest. Will constant large area mulching around the new tree over time improve the soil enough for it to keep going?
Yes, large-scale mulching can make a difference in time. In my home garden I mulch heavily around my fruit trees as part of a long-term plan to improve the poor soil.
Great video as usual! Do you have an opinion about products such as TreeDiaper? I live in a dry zone 4 area and will need to haul the water to some of the trees I planted.
Thanks. Products like that that store and slowly release water can be great for new trees. Because it releases water near the trunk it isn't as effective once the tree gets established and begins sending out roots well away from the tree.
Thanks. It depends on the tree and type of tree roots. Dwarf trees can be 8-12 feet apart, semi-dwarf are usually 12-15, standard trees are often 20-30. I think fall planting can be great for potted trees. The roots will grow until ground freezes and then be ready right away as soon as it thaws in spring. Bare root trees are best planted in spring.
This is very helpful, thank you very much. I have a question: when you plant bare root trees like that in the fall and they still have all winter long where they stay dormant, do you keep watering them or what? If so, for how long?
The soil should not be allowed to dry out to keep the roots from drying out, so I still water dormant trees. It is hard to find bare root trees in fall, most tend to be growing in pots.
@@GardenerScott That makes sense, thank you. A lot of websites online including Arbor Day Foundation sell bare root trees and ship them during the fall depending on the area.
No the rain will do it for you the first watering is really to settle the soil around the roots Do not put any sort of fertilizer down the young trees will turn it into sugar then you will have a green fly problem quickly followed by a black ant problem.
How close to the last frost date would one plant bare root fruit trees? LFD is May 11, currently it's the beginning of March. We're keeping the trees in the cool garage for now. There are a good amount of buds already.
Hi, I'm in Texas! I got a tree from home depot online a bare root multiple apple, it's not dead but having issues not putting out leaves, some little buds. It's in a self watering container and I spilled out the water from the reservoir because it stunk. Should I make sure it's emptying?
The logic of not amending the soil is somewhat confusing. Following that logic will make one believe that transplanting potted trees or plants will not work because, the plant does not want to go beyond the original soil transferred to the hole!
I planted a plum and it died. When digging it up, I found multiple neighbor walnut tree roots invading all that compost and fatally poisoning the plum.
I know this is an older video, but I will ask my question anyways, what is the logic of you not planting that tree on a raised mound so to compensate for the inevitable sinkage? No matter one’s soil condition, lowering of the soil is going to happen. GO RAMS!
It is hard to control how much sinking takes place. It's better to not dig the hole too deep. The base soil won't sink, so resting the tree roots on the bottom of the hole and backfilling with soil around it should have minimal sinking.
Planting some bare roots today, thanks for the warning on not amending the soil in the hole. Good stuff.
You bet!
@@GardenerScott I have clay soil. Do I plant my bare root without amending? Thanks!
Very Educational!
I have violated about one-half of your advice in this video. ☹️
I shall start making amends this upcoming season. 😇
Thank you.
Best video I have ever seen on planting a bare rooted tree
Thank you very much. I appreciate that.
Found it a very good one for info about it. Great instructional directions for how to do it. Keep safe!
I love this
Always great stuff Gardener Scott. Great views too!
Very Educational!
Thank you.
Scott, that is interesting about the soil amendments and root grow within the initial hole. I wonder if you could use this to your advantage on trees that tend to have really expansive roots and you want to limit their growth so they don't damage items like sidewalks or septic tanks.
It might limit some root growth for a few years, but trees that have big roots will still expand over time.
I just moved to a different environment. I rehabbed an orchard and trout farm at my old house. So I know a little. About that environment.
Now I'm in wet clay and rocks beside a creek. Full to partial south sun. And I just cleared about 2 acres of briars and scrub left over from clear cutting 40 yrs ago that I intend to put an orchard on. If anybody has the time I would much appreciate a little guidance.
I've got 4 weeping willows coming tomorrow bare root to plant and learn from, and because they were my mom's favorite.
Any help will be much appreciated.
I have 375 trees to plant soon for a hedge, all bare root, blackthorn, hawthorn, beech and hazel mix. A little bone meal added can help with root growth, but no other ammendments like you say. Still cold here so i should get them in before things warm up.
Was it really hard to plant that many? I have to plant around 150 this weekend and i'm nervous.
@@rubylace9963 It depends on what kind of trees and the size of them. Also if they are bare root or cell grown, bare root should be planted only in months with an "R" in its name...sept thro april in the temperate northern hemisphere. Cell grown plant anytime the soil is not frozen.
@@norton750cc I live in Canada and our spring starts a little later than most. Shelterbelt companies ship the trees in May but this May was hotter than most. Did all of your trees survive? I'm praying that mine do as that was a lot of work 😁
@@rubylace9963 Absolutely wonderful results, they are doing great, hawthorn first to kick into leaf, hazel next then blackthorn, last is beech, they are leafing up now. Keep watering in dry spells until their roots get deeper.
Hi Gardener Scott. I just planted a "stick" of a cherry tree. We're not past frosty days yet. Should I give a cut on the top or leave alone? When to cut or prune newly planted bare root trees? Thanks & great info as always GS.
You should prune while it's still dormant. Here's my video that shows the initial pruning. th-cam.com/video/yLD_1t8_SLU/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the link Gardener Scott! I watched it & gather it's ok to do in winter bec it's only a heading cut. Learning so much from you!
Very helpful! I am going plant a Pomegranate tree.
Wonderful video! Thank you. What are your thoughts on using tree protector/sleeves? I've seen it mentioned that this its important to keep mice, voles or rabbits from eating the bark. We have many mice, rabbits and deer on our property. Thank you.
Thanks! The sleeves can help with some animal pests and I use them.
@@GardenerScott Thank you!
How would you water the bare rooted tree after planting? I just planted it 2 days before. My soil is quite dense clay except the tree hole. I ended up to add some top soil in the tree hole since the soil was so hard to break despite your advice... Thanks!
I water every two or three days in the beginning by soaking the soil. You may not need to water as often with clay soil so check the moisture level and try to keep it moist.
What would you suggest for compacted desert rocky alkaline clay soil? I am surrounded by orchards but live on a rocky hillside in a forest. Will constant large area mulching around the new tree over time improve the soil enough for it to keep going?
Yes, large-scale mulching can make a difference in time. In my home garden I mulch heavily around my fruit trees as part of a long-term plan to improve the poor soil.
Great video as usual! Do you have an opinion about products such as TreeDiaper? I live in a dry zone 4 area and will need to haul the water to some of the trees I planted.
Thanks. Products like that that store and slowly release water can be great for new trees. Because it releases water near the trunk it isn't as effective once the tree gets established and begins sending out roots well away from the tree.
Thank you 🙏
Could you add a liquid fertilizer to the water as the tree is soaking?
You can but it may not be necessary. Bare root trees are usually dormant and roots aren't growing yet.
Very helpful. If I have multiple potted fruit trees, how far apart should they be planted and can I plant them in the fall (Southern Ontario, Canada)?
Thanks. It depends on the tree and type of tree roots. Dwarf trees can be 8-12 feet apart, semi-dwarf are usually 12-15, standard trees are often 20-30. I think fall planting can be great for potted trees. The roots will grow until ground freezes and then be ready right away as soon as it thaws in spring. Bare root trees are best planted in spring.
This is very helpful, thank you very much. I have a question: when you plant bare root trees like that in the fall and they still have all winter long where they stay dormant, do you keep watering them or what? If so, for how long?
The soil should not be allowed to dry out to keep the roots from drying out, so I still water dormant trees. It is hard to find bare root trees in fall, most tend to be growing in pots.
@@GardenerScott That makes sense, thank you. A lot of websites online including Arbor Day Foundation sell bare root trees and ship them during the fall depending on the area.
No the rain will do it for you the first watering is really to settle the soil around the roots Do not put any sort of fertilizer down the young trees will turn it into sugar then you will have a green fly problem quickly followed by a black ant problem.
How close to the last frost date would one plant bare root fruit trees? LFD is May 11, currently it's the beginning of March. We're keeping the trees in the cool garage for now. There are a good amount of buds already.
You can plant as soon as you can work in the soil. They are best planted when dormant, which should be well before the last frost.
@@GardenerScott Thank you for getting back! We'll go ahead and get planting then.
Thank you for great advices
if we put the tree in square hole is that enough to stop roots from circling in the amendment soil ??
Square holes may make it easier for roots to expand, but they may tend to circle in the amended soil.
Hi, I'm in Texas! I got a tree from home depot online a bare root multiple apple, it's not dead but having issues not putting out leaves, some little buds. It's in a self watering container and I spilled out the water from the reservoir because it stunk. Should I make sure it's emptying?
Hi, Melanie. The soil may be saturated with water and hurting the roots. Keep checking the soil and pouring out when you find it soggy.
@@GardenerScott thank you 😊
The logic of not amending the soil is somewhat confusing. Following that logic will make one believe that transplanting potted trees or plants will not work because, the plant does not want to go beyond the original soil transferred to the hole!
would you add biochar to the hole or to the pot if you have to pot a tree up prior to planting?
Mixing it with soil in the hole exposes it to more soil bacteria.
@@GardenerScott and that would be a good thing correct?
I planted a plum and it died. When digging it up, I found multiple neighbor walnut tree roots invading all that compost and fatally poisoning the plum.
Sorry to hear that.
I know this is an older video, but I will ask my question anyways, what is the logic of you not planting that tree on a raised mound so to compensate for the inevitable sinkage? No matter one’s soil condition, lowering of the soil is going to happen.
GO RAMS!
It is hard to control how much sinking takes place. It's better to not dig the hole too deep. The base soil won't sink, so resting the tree roots on the bottom of the hole and backfilling with soil around it should have minimal sinking.