This is Part 3 of our series explaining exactly what we do, and how the bare root trees and hedging that we grow can be used in your project. We have no interest in supplying tree saplings that will not flourish in your project, so here is the information you need to store them, plant them, and protect them. (You can find Part 1 here - explaining what bare root trees are, and Part 2 here - showcasing the varieties we can supply.)
When to buy
The growing season for our trees is over the summer, so the best time to replant them is in the winter, when they are dormant. This means that we start harvesting them, once they are tall enough for our customers’ requirements, from November through to March. This is called the Bareroot Planting Season.
You can purchase at any time during this season, or pre-order from August.
What you’ll receive
Our trees are delivered through couriers and the pallet network, depending on the size of the order. Or if you’re local to us in Cornwall, you can collect from our customer collection car park.
We ship our bareroot trees in bundles of 25 of the same variety and size, packaged in UV-proof white bags, so that the roots don’t dry out in the sunlight. This is important, and you should keep the trees in these bags, in a cool, dry place, until you’re actually ready to plant. When your plants arrive, check them to make sure there has been no damage caused in transit, and you’re happy with the delivery.
Keep the roosts moist, if you’re not going to plant them immediately. We stand our trees in moist sand, below, to keep them moist until they're ready to be shipped.
Preparing to plant
There are several ways to plant trees, depending on what you’re planting, and where. So many in fact we’ll leave that for another Blog post! But how to prepare your tree before planting is pretty much the same no matter the size, specification or eventual location of planting.
Trees should be in their bags out of direct sunlight until the point of planting – do not let those roots dry out! If the roots seem dry, dunk them in a bucket of water. It’s also good to remember they also need some air and to not get too hot, otherwise they’ll turn to compost. There is a very fine line.
There has been some great research in the benefits of dipping the roots of your trees in a mycorrhizal root dip prior to planting, and this is something we’d recommend for best practice. These are fungi species which have a beneficial relationship with tree roots, acting as extensions to the root system. Follow the instruction on the root dip packet, immediately before planting your tree.
Only when ready to plant, transfer trees to tree planting bag or bucket. Again, ensure those roots don’t dry out.
Clear a 30cm radius of vegetation around the location where you are intending to plant, this can either be through hand screefing or use of herbicide. Ensuring there is reduced competition will give your tree a fighting chance against surrounding vegetation.
What next?
We’ll go into more details how to plant your tree in another blog series. But for now here’s a quick to do list to ensure your tree survives.
Ensure that your saplings are well bedded into the soil, and well-watered.
Ensure you have the correct planting accessories for your scheme. We often say Right Tree. Right Place. But the same is true for plant protection. We can supply a variety of supports for new trees and can work with you to help you choose the protection that is best for the environment you’re planting into. These will ensure that your trees are protected from your local wildlife and can withstand the weather. You can choose a bio spiral, with a bamboo cane, which will grow with the tree. This is often preferred for hedging and shrub varieties. An alternative is a stake with a tree guard which is large enough to last for several years, and is more popular for woodland creation and tree varieties.
A mulch mat helps prevent the soil around the new tree from filling up with weeds which could out-compete it, and helps ensure that moisture is retained in the soil in the critical area around the roots.
Keep an eye on your trees as they grow, continue to remove weeds, adjust guards, stakes and if you really want to, prune for quality and condition.
Experience a drought in the summer? Your trees may need watering.
If you’ve used recyclable guards, once your trees are established, you can remove the guards and bring them back to use to recycle, as we are a Tubex Recycling Hub!
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