Forum home› Plants
This Forum will close on Wednesday 27 March, 2024. Please refer to the announcement on the Discussions page for further detail.

Bare root arrivals!

JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
in Plants
I’ve just had 5 cornus sanguinae (45-60cm) and 2x blueberry goldstraub (9cm pots) delivered :smile:



Not that Im panicking from the label but, I should plant/pot them up this afternoon right?

1. I seem to remember hearing you should soak the rootballs in water for an hour first - is that true only for planting as opposed to potting?

2. Im putting the blueberries in pots with some ericaceous (+ leaf mould/potting grit?) so they’ll go from a 9cm pot to just a little bigger 10 or 12?

3. The dogwoods I want to go straight in the ground (Kent, ground not frozen, a balmy 11° today with a low of 2° on Wednesday night).  Add a little home compost to the hole, plant then mulch?

Your expertise is always appreciated!

Thanks,

TP
«1

Posts

  • Allotment BoyAllotment Boy Posts: 6,774
    I think it is a good idea to soak the roots before planting a weak seaweed solution is ideal but not essential. If you can't plant properly then heal them in in a spare patch of ground until you can.
    AB Still learning

  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    Allotment Boy said:
    I think it is a good idea to soak the roots before planting a weak seaweed solution is ideal but not essential. If you can't plant properly then heal them in in a spare patch of ground until you can.
    Well I’ve soaked them in rain water for about half an hour, planted them, wiggled them, watered, a little pressing to get the air gaps out, covered with soil, then a homemade wood chip mulch.

    I could add compost, leaf mould or blood/fish/bone.

    Hopefully they’ll survive. :)

    Only watered the blueberries.

  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    The two larger ones went in on jan 1st. The three smaller ones arranged around the white frame are the ones just put in.


    Had a little help from baby ;)


  • Lizzie27Lizzie27 Posts: 12,494
    A future gardener?  The plants will be fine. Just keep your eye on them and if you don't get a lot of rain, water them , then mulch well.
    North East Somerset - Clay soil over limestone
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    Lizzie27 said:
    A future gardener?  The plants will be fine. Just keep your eye on them and if you don't get a lot of rain, water them , then mulch well.
    Thanks, will do.

    Perhaps you can see a glimpse of my plan?  As I can’t get sun behind them,  I’m using white paint on the wood to give them a background they can shine against.  Once the rest of the fence is up and the cornus grown, I’m secretly optimistic about next winter :wink:
  • punkdocpunkdoc Posts: 15,039
    IMO all newly planted plants need watering straight away, do not wait for rain.
    How can you lie there and think of England
    When you don't even know who's in the team

    S.Yorkshire/Derbyshire border
  • ObelixxObelixx Posts: 30,090
    Agree, generous watering at planting time and thru dry spells in their first spring and summer.
    Vendée - 20kms from Atlantic coast.
    "The price good men (and women) pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men (and women)."
    Plato
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    Okay, will do.  I just worry about watering in winter and early spring.  I had all my dahlia tubers turn to mush last year  :'(
  • FairygirlFairygirl Posts: 55,117
    Dahlias are very different from hardy shrubs, Tin pot. Shrubs need watering well until established.
    If you're in a dry part of the country, you can't rely on winter rain alone, especially if the ground has been dryish through autumn as well. If they're lacking moisture going into spring and summer, it's hard to get them rehydrated and growing away well at that point, so just make sure they're ok for the next few months  :)
    It's a place where beautiful isn't enough of a word....



    I live in west central Scotland - not where that photo is...
  • JoeXJoeX Posts: 1,783
    Okay, so through jan and Feb how should I gauge the frequency/volume of watering.

    Im thinking putting two full watering cans on them (7 dogwoods) twice a week if it’s not been raining, for example.
Sign In or Register to comment.