Planting Guide for Bare Root Plants
1. Upon receipt of your plants and whilst the plants are waiting to be planted it is vital that the roots do not dry out. If you choose not to have the Mycorrhizal and water retention root dip gel applied for you at the nursery, then it is recommended that you soak the plants in water for 2-3 hours to replenish any lost moisture from the roots. Alternatively, if you chose to have the Mycorrhizal and water retention root dip gel applied then it is advised that you should only water the plants well once they have been planted. Soaking the plants in water will dilute the pre-applied gel. It is important that bare root plants are not soaked for any longer than 12 hours as you will risk causing the stem of the plant to rot.
2. Once the plants have been received they should be planted as soon as possible, ideally within 3 days maximum of receiving the plants. If you are unable to plant within this period then a short term measure would be to store the bare root plants in a cool, dry location where the temperature is below 5 degrees Celsius i.e. in a garage. A longer term alternative is to heel the bare root plants in to the ground. To do this, split the individual plants from the bundle and loosely plant at a 45 degree angle to the ground, ensuring
roots are covered with soil. This may be necessary particularly in periods of extreme frost or snow, as it is advised that you avoid planting in frosty conditions as the frost may damage the roots. For more information on Heeling-In your plants, please click here.
3. When you are ready to plant your bare root plants, ensure that the depth of the hole is deep enough to lightly cover the top of the root system therefore the size of your planting hole will depend on which the size of the plant purchased. A soil mark should be visible which shows the depth the plants have been growing at in our fields. Planting any deeper will have an adverse affect on the plant, causing the stem of the plant to rot which could cause the plant to fail.
4. To ensure the quality of the current soil, add in well rotted manure or well rotted garden compost to provide extra nutrients and structure to the soil. If the soil has poor drainage then adding home compost, sharp sand or coarse grit will ensure a free draining soil and prevent the plant growing in waterlogged conditions.
5. Once the plants are in the ground, firm the soil around the plant so it acts as a support. This is usually done by lightly treading the ground around the plant. If planting in an exposed location then we recommend staking to prevent the plants being blown over. This will ensure that the root system is not disturbed whilst establishing itself in new conditions. If rabbits are a problem then rabbit guards / spiral hedge guards are also advised, supported using a single 90cm bamboo cane.
Aftercare
It is important to keep a 1.2m (4ft) circle around the plant clear of any weeds and vegetation, especially for the first year as these compete for vital nutrients and moisture and can harbour diseases. To suppress the weeds we recommend mulching around the plants with garden compost, bark chippings or mulch matting and this will also help conserve moisture in the soil. Leave a gap of approximately 10cm (4 inches) around the stem of the plant to ensure a good airflow. Additionally it is important to provide the plants with a good soaking of water every few days and this is particularly important in early spring to help the plant establish itself. During the winter months the plants won’t
require as much water as the ground takes longer to dry out. It is important to keep the plants well watered in March, April and May as they break dormancy and particularly in dry periods during the first year of the plants being in the ground.
Pruning
To restrict and maintain your hedge, pruning will be required. Pruning is often recommended in late spring through to late summer however the best time to prune varies depending on the variety of plant. If the leading stem or branches at the top of the plant are pruned then this will encourage new growth lower down the plant and as a result will increase the density of the plant/hedge.
Important Notice
We provide the highest quality bare root plants, however in the unlikely case that there are any substantial damages sustained whilst the plants have been in transit, please contact us straightaway, and our staff will be more than happy to help you. We may require some photographs of the plants to enable us to assess any damage.
It is unlikely that 100% of bare root plants will survive. However in the majority of cases a 95%+ success rate is the norm, although this will depend on local growing conditions such as soil type and weather conditions. In general, in the first year of planting, bare root plants take longer than container grown plants to establish their root system and come in to leaf or flower, as a result, patience is vital. Any material issues with the plants may not be apparent until the July in the following season.
Why our plants are different?
Hedge Nursery is the exclusive grower of RHS hedging plants, which are grown in 220 acres of rich Herefordshire soil. As they are dispatched directly from the fields, rather than through a nursery, they are much fresher than imported or even stored plants. RHS hedge plants are grown through low input horticultural methods. The planting fields are worked with pigs annually, to turn the ground and improve soil condition. Water is harvested in the winter for use in the summer. No heat or poly tunnels are used in the growing process which means your plants are hardened off as nature intended.