Bare-Root Planting Guide: Roses, Trees and Hedges

Bare-Root Season Has Opened, and Planting Roses, Fruit Trees and Hedges Now Costs Less

From November to March, nurseries sell roses, trees and hedging lifted straight from the field. Bare-root plants cost less, come in more varieties and settle in quickly.

Two people in rain jackets planting a young tree in an open field.

Photo: Thirdman / Pexels

Bare-root plants are grown in open fields, lifted while they are dormant and sent out with no soil around their roots. They look like bundles of twigs when they arrive, but they are one of the best-value buys in gardening. The season runs from November to March, and early planting gives roots the longest possible time to settle before spring.

Why bare-root is worth it

They cost less. With no pot or compost to pay for and lighter parcels to post, bare-root plants are usually far cheaper than the same plant in a container. The saving is largest when you plant a whole hedge.
The choice is wider. Nurseries offer many more varieties of roses, apples, pears and soft fruit bare-root than they ever stock in pots.
They establish well. Planted while dormant, they grow roots through winter and start into growth with the soil already around them.