Bare root vs potted: Which did you pick for your spring planting?

I had to decide between bare root trees and potted ones last month for my backyard. The bare roots were half the price at $25 each but looked like dead sticks in the ground for the first two weeks. The potted ones from the nursery cost $50 but had leaves already. I went with bare roots because I figured they'd adapt better. Three weeks in and two out of five are showing buds, the rest are just sitting there. Starting to second guess myself. What did you guys go with and how did yours turn out?

2 comments

2 Comments

kimreed12d ago

Oh MAN, I went BAREROOT and honestly I think the secret is to soak the roots in a bucket of water with a little honey for 24 hours before planting. Total game changer for waking them up fast!

the_pat12d ago

My grandpa used to throw a rusty nail in the water when he soaked bare roots, swore it was the iron that made them perk up. Never did find out if that was real or just him being stubborn.