Walk into any garden center and you’ll see tubs of dirt filled with little twigs. Why is this so exciting? It means that bareroot planting season has finally arrived. Those little twigs are attached to the healthy root systems of roses, fruit trees, asparagus crowns, and other ornamental and culinary delights. Now is the time to get them in the ground. Here’s our recipe for success:
1. Keep the roots wrapped or covered in soil until you are ready to plant. Even short exposure to sunlight can shock the root system.
2. Now get out your secret weapon: Big Bloom Liquid Organic Fertilizer. That’s right—it’s not just for flowers. Big Bloom is actually a great root drench that will get bareroot plants off to an amazing start. In a bucket, mix 1/4 cup of Big Bloom per gallon of room temperature water. Soak the roots in the mixture for 1 hour prior to planting, being sure to keep the roots out of sunlight.
3. While your roots are soaking, dig a hole 2-3 times the size of the root ball when it’s spread out. Fill with a mixture of FoxFarm’s Original Planting Mix or Happy Frog Soil conditioner, combined with native soil.
4. Mix with our dry Peace of Mind Starter Organic Fertilizer according to package directions.
5. After your roots have finished their spa treatment, carefully place each bareroot plant in its hole, making sure to spread the roots out and cover them well. Water immediately. That’s all you need to do until you start to see new growth in the spring. To get the most out of those bareroot plants, start a regular feeding schedule with American Pride, our time-release fertilizer for roses and other flowering shrubs and trees, or Marine Cuisine, the time-release blend that works best for blueberries, trees, and evergreens.
