The Whistling Gardener

by Steve Smith

Steve Smith is owner of Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville, located at 3915 Sunnyside Blvd., and a respected local expert on all things horticultural. You can reach Steve at 425-334-2002 or by e-mail at [email protected].

While I realize that many of you aren't quite to the point of visiting your favorite garden center, the fact is that all garden centers have been hard at it for well over a month now bringing in new stock. One of the early arrivals at garden centers is bare root plants. These can be shrubs, roses, trees, berries and assorted perennials including vegetables. So let me explain just exactly what a bare root plant is.

Bare root plants are plants that have no soil on their roots and hence their roots are bare. That's simple enough, don't you think? Some garden centers will sell these plants in the bare state, which usually means they lift them out of a sawdust bed, place them in a plastic bag and send them on their merry way, hoping the customer will plant them immediately. In this case, "immediately" means within 24 hours, because under no circumstances can you let the roots dry out or the plant may not survive. Garden centers also pot up some bare root plants so they can start to regenerate their root system. These potted plants don't need to be planted immediately, which can be an advantage if the gardener is still deciding where to plant them.

Bare root plants have many advantages. For starters, they are less expensive than container-grown plants. This time of year, you can purchase a pot of five raspberries for under $15. Wait until May and you will pay $10 for one. The same is true for strawberries. A pot of 25 strawberry plants sells for $10-12. In May you will pay

$2 to $3 for one plant. The savings are enormous. Fruit, flowering and shade trees can be purchased now for 30 to 40 percent off the potted price you would pay in May. These prices alone should be motivation enough to get you out of that easy chair and down to the garden center.

Another big advantage of bare root is that you don't have a heavy root ball to deal with, nor do you have a pot that needs recycling. They are lightweight and easy to handle and even easier to plant.

The disadvantages of bare root are that they are only available from January through the end of March, so you need to shop early for the best selection. Because a significant portion of their root system was left back on the farm, you need to make sure they are carefully monitored during the first season. Adding slow release fertilizer in the hole when you plant will encourage new root growth. And finally, sometimes the tops of the plant will need to be pruned to balance the loss of roots and encourage new branches. This needs to be done carefully and is usually best accomplished by a nursery professional. Be sure and talk to them about this before you leave.

Not all deciduous plants can be sold bare root. Dogwoods, for instance, are almost always sold in containers, as are Japanese Maples, Witchhazels, Magnolias and Stewartias. This is probably because their roots are finer and more prone to dry out. Evergreens, unless they are small seedlings, are never sold bare root because they have leaves year 'round that need active roots to keep them alive. Bare rooting an evergreen will quickly turn it into a "never green."

So February and March is bare root season at your garden center, and there are plenty of good reasons to plant this time of year. While you may think it is too early, bare root plants know it is the perfect time for transplanting. Save some money, save some pots and save some sore muscles by planting bare root now.



Steve Smith is owner of Sunnyside Nursery in Marysville and can be reached at 425-334-2002 or online at [email protected].