Bare root planting is the easiest and most cost-effective way to plant trees and shrubs. Pictured above is witch hazel, bare root on left and with container on right. Photo courtesy of Turnbull Nursery

Bare root planting is the easiest and most cost-effective way to plant trees and shrubs. Bare root you say? What in the world does that mean?

Back in the day when plastic containers were not a thing, this was the way that trees were harvested, planted or transplanted throughout the United States. Bare root trees are trees that are dormant and typically dug in the fall and stored in a cool, damp place without any soil around their roots until they can be planted again in early spring.

How is this better than a tree sold in a container?

Bare root plants have more root mass. Their roots have been allowed to grow long and fibrous, whereas container trees typically have been cut to fit the pot and have nowhere to grow except round and round.

Bare root plants cost less. Without the extra cost of a plastic container, soil and labor to put the tree in a pot, bare root plants cost the nursery less, and therefore the consumer can take advantage of this lower cost as well.

Bare root plants are also easier to plant. A tree and/or shrub without any soil attached weighs very little and is much easier to transport and plant.

Are there any disadvantages to buying and planting bare root?

Time is of the essence with bare root plants. Once they leave the nursery, bare root plants need to get in the ground within a week. With no soil, the roots can dry out and die if left exposed for any time. Bare root plants need good soil moisture, so early spring is best for planting. Here in western New York, as long as the ground isn’t frozen and the soil isn’t too wet and mushy, you can plant. And don’t worry if after you plant your bare root, we get a freeze or a foot of snow. The roots are protected and insulated in the soil, and so long as the plant was planted correctly and there are no air pockets, it will survive and thrive in the coming years. In addition, some species of trees and shrubs may not be available or do not respond well as a bare root plant, and/or some nurseries may not have trees available for bare root retail sale at all.

Thank goodness that is not the case in Chautauqua County. Bareroot plants are alive and growing strong at the Chautauqua County Soil & Water Conservation District. Their annual tree and shrub sale has begun, and we encourage everyone to take advantage of this wonderful event. Visit for more information. It promotes landowner conservation practices by offering the public bare root trees and shrubs at an affordable rate. Landowners can practice conservation by planting seedlings, transplants and conservation seed mixes to provide food and shelter to wildlife, reduce heating/cooling expenses, protect water quality with buffers, reduce air pollution and stabilize eroded land. Seedlings are an inexpensive way to replace trees that have been damaged, harvested or lost to disease. These bare root plants can be used in the landscape surrounding your home or on larger land areas to support wildlife and wild game. Orders are on a first come, first served basis and need to be placed by April 1, 2022. Thirty-five species that are native to New York and twenty-five species that are exclusively native to Chautauqua County were selected specifically for this year’s sale.

So, dare to go bare! Visit Chautauqua County’s very own local bare root sale and place your order today!

For assistance with choosing which trees and shrubs to plant and/or bare root planting instructions, please contact Carol Markham, CWC Conservationist, at 716-664-2166, ext. 2005, or carol@chautauquawatershed.org.

The Chautauqua Watershed Conservancy is a not-for-profit organization with the mission to preserve and enhance the water quality, scenic beauty and ecological health of the lakes, streams, wetlands and watersheds of the Chautauqua region. For more information, visit chautauquawatershed.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram.