Did I mention that we’re moving house? Not straight-away, the right place hasn’t turned up yet; but it’s just a matter time and I’ve been thinking about making a new garden, it’s 14 years since this garden was done, and I’ve got plenty of fresh ideas.
I’d like to plant one or two trees and I’d love some roses, but it’s unlikely to happen this season. If you fancy doing some planting, you’ll be pleased to know that this is a good time of year for it.
The soil is still warm and welcoming, encouraging plants to settle in and develop their roots ready for a growth spurt in the spring, when it all warms up again. You can plant up to the end of March, but the ground may be frozen or very wet, so early winter is a more reliable time.
Bare-root plants don’t come in pots, rather the roots are loosely wrapped. There are good reasons to choose them, they’re cheaper than plants in pots, they won’t be pot-bound and November is the perfect time for planting them. There’s less work for the grower which is why they don’t cost as much as plants in pots.
This is how my fruit trees looked after delivery, they were well-wrapped with straw and arrived in perfect condition.
Bare-root fruit trees
Hedging, small trees, including fruit trees, fruit bushes, shrubs, roses and some herbaceous plants like peonies can all be bought as bare-root plants.
Peony Cardinal Vaughan
Unwrap them from any plastic as soon as you get them home, or they’ve been delivered. Plant as soon as you can, or sit them loosely in soil with their roots covered until you get the chance to plant them.
By early spring next year they’ll start growing, and although they won’t look much bigger, the roots will have developed enough for the plant to cope better with warm, dry weather. Though they will need some watering, especially if it’s a dry spring.
Here’s an earlier post about how to plant a tree.
Happy gardening
Jill
images: Jill Anderson
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