Bareroot Plants…. What to Expect When You are Expecting Delivery

Whitney Laritson | February 14, 2026

We’ve said it once and we’ll say it again, bareroot plants rock! We could rave about them all day and if you want to learn a little bit more about all the reasons you should buy bareroot, check out our blog on the topic!

Now, maybe you’ve already bought a bareroot and are wondering what you’ve gotten yourself into. No worries, we’ll walk you through what to expect when your bareroot arrives.

First things first, keep in mind our bareroot deliveries start in early spring and continue into the middle part of June. So you may be receiving plants that have no leaves on them even though the plants in your yard are leafed out and growing. This is totally normal!

Nurseries have been growing bareroot for generations...and the whole idea of digging plants without any soil, and holding those plants dormant in our coolers is still a very commonly used practice for growers.

Bareroot plants ship easily and the beauty is the root systems are not growing in circles. Plant roots that start growing in circles will often continue to do so once planted back into the ground and can cause root girdling down the road. That does not happen with bare-root plants.

How will Bareroots be delivered?
How to Plant Bareroot Shrubs & Trees

How will Bareroots be delivered?

Bareroot plants are dormant coming from our coolers that are 35 degrees, and the plants still think it is winter. This means they’ll look like any outdoor plant in the winter, asleep and leafless. Once the tree or shrub is planted in the warm soil, it’ll start leafing out fairly quickly and after a month or two, it’ll look as lively as the rest of the plants in your garden!

After receiving the box, follow these steps for planting success:

Find a shady spot to keep the box while getting scissors, shears and a bucket of water ready
Carefully unbox the plant and remove the wrapping. If you bought more than one, they may be tied together. Should this be the case, go ahead and separate them.
Check the plant. It’s normal for there to be dried leaves and limited branching. It’ll have plenty of leaves soon!
Snip off broken branch tips. Once it’s planted, new growths will be produced at the fresh cut
Soak the roots in water. Ideally, let it soak overnight but anywhere from 1 to 24 hours will work well.
Prepare the planting hole. Choose the site carefully so the plant gets the correct amount of sunlight and the right soil type. Check out the plant facts on our site and follow the Planting Guide when situating it in its new home.

How to Plant Bareroot Shrubs & Trees

Planting is a piece of cake and you won’t have to worry about hauling around heavy containers of soil. Bareroots are light and very transportable. After unboxing, soaking and picking a spot:

Pick the location. If you haven’t already, check around your landscape and pick a spot that gets the right amount of sunlight for your plant and has the right soil type. Most plants prefer well drained soil.
Dig the hole. Check the bottom of the plant for the slight change in color above the roots which shows how deep to plant it. Dig the hole that deep and twice as wide as the roots extend
Plant it. Add the plant to the hole with the roots down. Cover the roots and fill the hole, making sure not to plant any deeper than the soil line.
Water well and mulch. Soak the soil all around the plant and cover with a thick layer of mulch. 3-4 inches should do it but keep the mulch away from the actual base of the plant.
Give your new addition plenty of TLC. Keep a regular watering schedule to let the plant establish during its first year.

Don’t let the initial look of bareroot plants scare you off. They may take a bit of patience, but the end results 6-8 weeks later are healthy plants at an excellent value.

Still not sure, watch our video on unboxing a bareroot Lucy Rose of Sharon to get a better idea of what a bareroot shrub looks like out of the box.

Happy Planting!

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Frequently Asked Questions

How does bareroot shipping work and what should I expect when my plant arrives?

Bareroot plants are shipped dormant directly from our 35-degree coolers, so they'll arrive leafless and looking like a winter plant even if it's spring in your yard. This is completely normal and by design, as keeping them dormant makes shipping easier and results in healthier, unballed root systems that won't develop the circular growth patterns that can cause root girdling later on. Bareroot deliveries run from early spring through mid-June, so timing can vary. When your plant arrives, soak the roots in water for 1 to 24 hours before planting, and expect the tree or shrub to begin leafing out within a few weeks of being planted in warm soil.

How do I care for bareroot trees and shrubs immediately after delivery?

When your bareroot plant arrives, move it to a shady spot and unbox it promptly, removing all wrapping and separating plants if multiple were shipped together. Snip off any broken branch tips to encourage healthy new growth, then soak the roots in a bucket of water for 1 to 24 hours, with an overnight soak being ideal. From there, select your planting site based on the sunlight and soil requirements listed on the plant's product page, and get it in the ground as soon as possible so it can wake from dormancy and begin leafing out.

Why do bareroot plants look dormant or dead when they arrive in the mail?

Bareroot plants are shipped directly from refrigerated coolers kept at 35 degrees Fahrenheit, which keeps them in a dormant, winterlike state even if spring is well underway in your yard. This is completely normal and has been standard nursery practice for generations, with deliveries running from early spring through mid-June. Once you plant your bareroot in warm soil, it will typically begin leafing out within a few weeks and look fully established after a month or two. Soak the roots in water for 1 to 24 hours before planting to give the plant the best possible start.

How long does it take for bareroot trees to leaf out after planting?

After planting a bareroot tree or shrub in warm soil, you can typically expect it to begin leafing out fairly quickly, with most plants looking fully established within one to two months. The tree is essentially waking up from a dormant, winter-like state after being held in 35-degree coolers, so the transition to active growth takes a little patience. To encourage the fastest, healthiest leaf-out, soak the roots in water for one to 24 hours before planting and make sure you have chosen a site with the correct sunlight and soil conditions for your specific plant.

How long can bareroot plants survive out of the ground before I need to plant them?

Bareroot plants can survive out of the ground for a short window, typically 1 to 3 days after arrival, as long as their roots are kept moist and the plants are stored in a cool, shaded location. The moment your shipment arrives, soak the roots in water for 1 to 24 hours, which helps rehydrate the plant after transit. If you cannot plant immediately, keep the roots wrapped and moist in a cool spot out of direct sun and wind. Get your planting hole prepared before your order arrives so you can move quickly and get your bareroot into the ground as soon as possible.

How do I store bareroot plants if I cannot plant them right away?

If you cannot plant your bareroot right away, keep the roots moist by wrapping them in damp burlap or newspaper and store the plant in a cool, dark location like a garage or basement where temperatures stay around 35 to 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Avoid letting the roots dry out, as this is the most common cause of bareroot failure. For short-term storage of a few days, a bucket with the roots submerged in water will also work well. Get your bareroot in the ground as soon as possible, ideally within a week of arrival, to give it the best chance of thriving.

How long does it take bareroot plants to establish and show new growth?

Once a bareroot plant is in the ground and the soil begins to warm, you can expect to see new leaf growth within a few weeks, with the plant looking fully established and lively within one to two months. This timeline is completely normal, even if the bareroot arrives looking dormant and leafless while everything else in your yard is already growing. To support the fastest establishment, soak the roots in water for one to 24 hours before planting, choose a site with the correct sun exposure and soil type for your specific plant, and keep the root zone consistently moist through that first growing season.

Should I soak bareroot plant roots before planting and for how long?

Yes, soaking bareroot plant roots before planting is an essential step that helps rehydrate the plant after its time in cold storage. Place the roots in a bucket of water for a minimum of 1 hour and up to 24 hours, with an overnight soak being the ideal target. This rehydration gives your plant the best possible start once it goes into the ground, so plan your planting day accordingly and have your hole prepared and ready before the soak period ends.

Can bareroot trees and shrubs ordered online survive shipping and grow successfully?

Yes, bareroot trees and shrubs are well-suited for shipping and have been successfully grown using this method for generations. Because they are dug without soil and kept dormant in coolers at 35 degrees, they ship easily and arrive with healthy, straight root systems free of the circling that can lead to root girdling later on. Deliveries run from early spring through mid-June, so do not be alarmed if your plant arrives leafless even while your garden is actively growing. When your plant arrives, soak the roots in water for 1 to 24 hours before planting, and within a month or two of going into warm soil, it will leaf out and thrive alongside everything else in your garden.

What should I do if my bareroot plant does not show signs of life after planting?

If your bareroot plant hasn't leafed out, give it time, as bareroot plants can take up to 4 to 8 weeks after planting to show signs of growth depending on soil temperature and local conditions. Perform a simple scratch test by lightly scraping a small section of bark on a young branch; if you see green tissue underneath, the plant is alive and just taking its time to establish. Make sure the roots are staying consistently moist but not waterlogged, and that the planting site offers the correct sun exposure for the species. If no green tissue is visible after 8 weeks, contact Nature Hills customer service at naturehills.com for support and to review your plant's warranty options.