For many years, Bailey has been growing and using bareroot liners to produce finished containers that will be distributed to retailers across North America. With so many different shrubs, a key part of this process is evaluating the practices for each plant to ensure the quality remains consistent.
We often receive questions from growers about producing specific plants, so here are tips to consider as you’re planting bareroot shrubs in containers.
First Editions® Tiger Eyes® Sumac
Fernando Villafan is the Department Head of MN Container Production, and each year he works with Tiger Eyes® sumac, with the goal of producing a sturdy shrub with multiple stems. “We prune the Tiger Eyes® liner down to 6” before planting if we’re producing them in a #2 Container, and we prune them just a little higher if we’re growing them for #5 containers.
This practice allows the plant to produce buds lower on the stem, which helps the finish plant grow multiple stems that remain upright,” Fernando adds, “For timing, we recommend pruning them right away before they start growing.”
Panicle Hydrangea
Another shrub that benefits from hard pruning is Hydrangea paniculata. “We used to have problems with these plants being leggy, so a few years ago, we started pruning the plants down to 9” before planting in #2 containers. It looks dramatic, almost like you butchered the plant, but you’re going to create a dense, stocky plant that will be full of blooms. And for hydrangeas that are going into #5 containers, we prune those back to 15,” Fernando says.
Hydration is Key
A final practice that remains crucial for any bareroot plant is hydration. “It’s very basic, but also easy to overlook. We’ve learned the hard way that if you don’t keep those plants well hydrated, those plants are more likely to have issues after planting. In the middle of winter, we’re still having to water once or twice a week, even with the plants being stored in a moist environment,” Fernando adds. “As we get into spring, the plants may appear to be dormant, but they are becoming very active as they absorb more water and prepare to grow, so we must start watering those plants more frequently, and sometimes daily for certain varieties.”
As the liners get shipped, they’re watered shortly before going on the truck, and Fernando recommends watering them as soon as they’re taken off the truck at the nursery. “When we receive them at the container field, we have to put them in shade and constantly hydrate them. The plants are smart, so they know it’s time to wake up and use more water. It’s also important to plant the liners as soon as possible. We usually plant within a day or two of receiving the plants from the coolers, but also realize that sometimes it takes a bit longer for customers to plant them, so the key is keeping the plants always hydrated.”
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Please note that Bailey is a wholesale supplier for the horticulture industry. If you’re a home gardener, please head to the Find a retailer page to locate plants near you.