Success With Bare-Root Perennials

It’s that time of year when the mailbox is full to bursting with plant and seed catalogs. If you’re thinking of ordering some bare-root perennials, great! They are a wonderful way to add plants to your garden without busting your budget. They can sometimes be a little temperamental, though, so let me offer a few tips for success.

When your plants arrive, open the box right away so you can inspect everything. Bare-root perennials are usually shipped in small plastic baggies filled with sawdust or a bit of peat moss. Roots should be white and firm. If you’re looking at plants that are yellowish or brown, or if they feel dried up or mushy, send them back for a refund. It’s not worth planting anything in that shape.

Companies ship bare-root plants according to area frost-free dates. You’re supposed to plant everything right away, but the problem with that advice is that it’s not uncommon for the ground to still be very cold and wet in the spring. If this is the case, it’s better to wait a little bit before planting. If it’s just going to be a couple of days, you can seal the plants back up in their bags and pop them into the crisper in the fridge.

If you’re going to be waiting weeks, it’s better to pot up your new bare-root plants. I know it seems strange to put something in a pot that you’re eventually going to put in the ground, but you’ll be glad you did. In fact, regardless of the weather or the temperature of the soil, bare-root plants often do better when they’re given a little time to get started in a pot before going in the ground. If you do this, use a soilless potting mix, like the kind you use when starting seeds, rather than soil.

Choose containers that are roomy enough to allow the new plant to grow without being constricted over the next few weeks. Dig a hole that’s deep and wide enough to allow roots to fan out. If you see leaves, buds or new growth, position the plant so those things are just above the surface of the soil. You want to have the crown (the point where the roots and the new growth meet) at soil level so water doesn’t pool on top of the crown and rot the plant.

Things are a little different for dormant plants with no top growth. Position these about 1 inch below the soil surface. (In some cases, bare-root perennials will come with an instruction sheet telling you how best to plant them.)

Once you’ve got your plants potted up, water gently until water runs out the bottom of the container and then use your fingers to firm the mix around the roots. Keep your containers indoors in a bright spot that doesn’t get direct sun. Ideally, the temperature should be around 55°F to 60°F. Don’t water again until you see new green growth in two or three weeks. When you do water, do so sparingly. From then on, probably once a week, water with the goal of just keeping the soil from drying out. Too much water will cause the roots to rot.

Move your new perennials outdoors once the soil has warmed up. As you would with new seedlings, give them a little time to harden off before planting them in the garden.