November brings Saint Catherine's Day and the perfect time for bare-root plantings—a tradition rooted in centuries of horticultural wisdom.
With nature at rest and leaves fallen, deciduous trees and shrubs transplant best now. Evergreen varieties? Wait for spring to ensure optimal root establishment.
A bare-root tree or shrub has exposed roots without surrounding soil, unlike container-grown plants with their root balls. (Never try knocking soil off container roots—it damages them!)
Affordability tops the list, thanks to abundant roots that would require massive—and costly—containers. Out-of-season planting (March to October) demands containers, adding expense and handling challenges due to weight.
Soak roots in a pralin mix of water, clay, and manure—an age-old technique for better rooting. Modern ready-to-use pralin from garden centers simplifies the process, sans the cow dung.
Ready, set, plant! Saint Catherine's flag is down—though some eager gardeners jumped the gun.
