WhAT IS bare root & why is it better?

 1.  Trees and shrubs that are harvested when dormant in the fall; over-Winter in a cool, high humidity environment; and are sold without soil around the roots in the early Spring. Until the 1940's almost all trees were sold this way.  Then big retailers decided they needed to be able to offer trees longer into the season, so they started putting these plants/trees in pots. This wasn't better for the trees or customers, it was only better for the retailers.   2.   Fully leafed out and growing trees harvested from our Missouri Gravel Bed.  These plants/trees generally have a much greater root mass and fibrous roots than container plants/trees.  Their roots are dipped into a product called Soil-Moist with mycorrhizae (a symbiotic fungi), to keep the roots moist and help reduce transplant stress.  The trees are light and easy to handle for transport, with all of the benefits of traditional bare root. 

Dormant bare root trees and plants are harvested after they "go to sleep for the winter" and "wake up" in the soil they're going to grow in.  Missouri Gravel Bed trees, that are transplanted fully leafed out and are sometimes even growing fruit, have a much larger root mass which allows the plants to take in more water & nutrition upon transplanting. Both methods greatly ​decreases transplant shock.  

Plants can grow roots much faster than they produce green growth up above. Potted plants often become root bound,  where  the roots start spiraling  around the bottom of the pot (the longer they're in the pot, the worse this gets.)  When these trees are transplanted, the roots often continue to grow in a circular pattern, where the roots don't grow outside the initial planting hole. This is called "flower potting."  Even if the tree doesn't die, the root system is often greatly compromised, resulting in poor growth and loss of fruit production. This process can take several years and is often what we find when we're called to look at someone's trees that have failed to produce fruit as expected. 

With planting, it's CRITICAL to get the proper depth.  Trees and shrubs should never be planted with the top roots deeper than 2" below the soil.  Any deeper and the roots can grow around the trunk and girdle/strangle the tree as it grows. This is the #1  biggest cause for tree failure with potted and balled & burlapped trees where the soil with the plant hides these top roots.  With bare root trees, the primary roots are visible so you can ensure precise planting depth.  You can also limit the amount of disturbed soil beneath the plant so it doesn't settle and become more than 2" deep.