Bare roots trees have a lot of advantages when it comes to transport, reduced transplant shock, growth and health, however, you need to be aware that they do require a little bit more attention when it comes to planting them.
Firstly, you will want to have your holes prepared so that you can plant them almost immediately. Alternatively, you can plant them all together in a bundle as a temporary measure whilst you dig the other holes. Test your soil (if possible) to ensure that the nutrients are present in sufficient quantities and prepare it if the drainage is inadequate. Also, install and test your irrigation system to check that you can keep your watering consistent, as this is one of the most crucial factors in ensuring the survival of your new trees.
When your bare root trees arrive home, you will want to immerge their roots in a bucket of water for a period of about 2 hours. This allows the trees to rehydrate before planting.
When planting make sure to plant the trees at their original depth. Planting them deeper than they were can cause root rot, and planting them with the grafted section underground will cause the scion wood to root, which defeats the purpose of the graft. For best results, try to ensure that the grafting point is about 4 fingers aboveground.
In addition, minimize root disturbance, and do not tamp the ground down around the tree too firmly. This prevents oxygen from getting to the roots which can have adverse effects. Most fruit trees require levels of oxygen that are 10% or higher. The root growth of the Rosacea (rose) family is suppressed as soon as oxygen levels drop below 5% for a period of 30 minutes. Oxygen is particularly important for pear trees, as they are highly susceptible to transplant changes.
For best results, have stakes or a support system in place to prevent excessive movement of the tree during the first few days.
Water well after planting, and make sure to keep your plants from drying out until long after they have leafed out. Also, keep the trees disease and pest free for at least a month after planting, as this will divert energy away from the process of adapting to their new conditions.
Finally, if you intend to mulch you will need to wait a while, as this will keep the soil cold and damp and delay growth.
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