Extension

A home’s value is based on a lot of things – the number of bedrooms and bathrooms or special features such as a fireplace or swimming pool – but a home’s landscape also plays into the equation. 

 

A well-designed landscape can add thousands of dollars to the value of a home. Homeowners can add bare-root trees and shrubs to help boost the bottom line. 

 

Bare-root plants are those that have been harvested and stored without any type of growing media attached to the roots. Harvesting takes place in the winter while the plants are dormant because this reduces plant stress during transportation to nurseries and plant stores. Plants that respond well to this type of production and planting method include fruit trees, roses, some perennials, and some ornamental shrubs and trees.

 

Homeowners with plans to add to their landscapes should act now to shop for the new additions to have the best selection and to get the new trees and shrubs planted while they’re still in the dormant phase.

 

Typically, bare-root trees and shrubs are packaged in a bag containing a moist medium such as sawdust to protect the roots from drying out before planting. If homeowners can’t plant for a couple of weeks after purchase, go ahead and open the bag to check root moisture. Add water if necessary to keep them damp until planting. The roots shouldn’t be exposed to dry air, even for a short time. The root system contains very fine root hairs that are responsible for moisture and nutrient uptake. Even a short exposure to dry air will kill these roots.

 

When ready to plant, remove all bags, strings or wires. Trees and shrubs should be planted at the same depth they were at the nursery. Planting too deep is one of the main causes of plant failure.

 

The root ball needs some space in the hole to prevent the roots from crowding or twisting. However, make sure it’s no deeper than the original root depth and at least twice the spread of the roots. Before planting, remove any dead or broken roots. Work the soil under and around the roots to remove air pockets. Fill the hole about three-fourths full, then fill the hole with water. Once the water has drained, finish filling the hole with soil and water again. If the soil settles more, add more soil to bring it up to grade.

 

Gardeners can get more tree-planting information in the Oklahoma State University Extension fact sheet HLA-6414 Planting Trees and Shrubs.