Bare root; why and how.
First, let me clarify for the sake of this article, when I speak of fruit trees here I am referring to mainly the stone fruits. (Peach, Plum, Pear, Apple etc.) Citrus trees are usually containerized and available later in the Spring season.
 Okay, here goes. Fruit trees are often field grown on various hardy root stocks and grafted on according to varieties by the grower. Trees generally grow much faster in the field than they will in a container and are generally less expensive to produce as well.
 When it comes time to harvest the trees for sale to the retail nurseries (the winter dormant season) the trees are dug from the fields with no soil attached to the roots, and then shipped directly to the nurseries. This happens in one of two ways. Either the trees are packaged by the grower in plastic bags filled with sphagnum moss or similar material around the roots to keep the roots moist or the trees are placed together in large bundles with moist hay and or sphagnum moss packed in the bundle and then wrapped in plastic and burlap. The main difference in the two methods is the trees that are individually packaged remain that way until the consumer takes the trees home and unwraps it to plant it, whereas the trees that are placed in large bundles are unpacked by the retail nursery and then heeled into large bins of sand or similar material to keep the roots moist and viable until they are purchased and planted by the consumer. One advantage to the second method is that the consumer gets to see the root system of the plant before it is taken home and planted.
 Two advantages of planting bare root fruit trees are economy and sustainability. The trees are less expensive to produce and the savings is passed on to the consumer. Also, the process is sustainable because less effort and growing time is spent in production and the use of plastic nursery pots and potting mixes are eliminated. Proper handling of bare root plants will result in very high survivability rates of 95% or better. The main limitation on bare root planting is the time of year. Containerized plants can be planted year round whereas bare root plants must be planted in the winter dormant season.
 It is important that the plants are purchased and planted before the spring growing season to ensure success. It is also important that the bare root plants are taken home and planted immediately or as soon as possible. The roots of the plant must not be allowed to dry out or suffer freeze damage in really cold weather. The best way to prevent this is to have the planting holes prepared before the trees are purchased. Once the trees are planted in the ground, the roots will be protected from freezing temperatures and the roots will begin growing and getting established in the cool soil temperatures very quickly. It would be a good idea to amend the planting soil with some good quality compost or garden soil to facilitate the establishment of the plant. Root stimulators such as Liquid Seaweed or Superthrive are also helpful. You may also want to use starter products containing Mycchorrizal fungi to help with transplant survivability and rapid establishment of a vigorous and healthy root system. The trees should be watered in well at planting time and then monitored for soil moisture until spring when a regular watering pattern will be necessary. Bare root trees do best if they are not over watered during the dormant season as the roots may drown in soggy conditions. The fact that there are no leaves on the tree means that the tree will use and require less water, plus the soil drys out slower in winter than in summer. Very sandy soils will require more frequent watering than heavy clay soils. Common sense is the rule here. One final note on bare root trees. It is recommended that the tree is pruned some so as to compensate for the roots that were lost when the trees were field dug. I recommend pruning off about 20% of the top of the tree as well as removing side branches that are smaller than pencil size. This will result in your tree growing more quickly than if left un-pruned. If you are not sure how to do this, we will be glad to do it for you at the nursery when the tree is purchased. For more info check out aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/extension/fruitgarden/fruitgarden.html