How to Care for a Bare Root Plant
- 1). Remove any material (like moss or paper) that has been covering the root.
- 2). Place the root into a bucket of room-temperature water and allow it to soak for several hours.
- 3). Carry the bucket with the root in it to the place you plan to plant it. Do not take it out of the water just yet as it is best to not expose the root to too much air before it is time to plant.
- 4). Remove any part of the root that is broken or twisted with a sharp knife or shears. This will ensure that the root will be able to easily access nutrients when it is in the ground. Try not to remove too much of the root, however; remove only what is very obviously broken, twisted, or possibly dead.
- 5). Dig a hole that is twice as wide as your root, though try to keep the hole shallow. The root will need to stay close to the surface to sprout.
- 6). With your hands, form a small circular mound of soil in the center of the hole.
- 7). Gently place the root on top of the mound of soil. When it is secure in the center of the mound, tightly pack the soil around the root. This will force air away from the soil, and securely hold the root in place. Each root should be 1 or 2 inches below the surface of the soil.
- 8). Water the area where you planted the root.
