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bare root shrubs

geum keenbutgreengeum keenbutgreen Posts: 508
in Plants

I had some bare root hardy shrubs delivered a couple of weeks ago, with the roots all wrapped up nicely and in a large paper bag. I opened the bag at the top to have a peep, popped them in the garage and then totally forgot about them image I'm so ashamed!)

I remembered about them today and whisked them out, soaked the roots for a good while and then potted them up. Have my efforts been in vain and I've murdered them with my neglectfulness, or is there a possibility they will be ok?

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Posts

  • B3B3 Posts: 26,432

    They often sit in the shops for more than a couple of weeks. With luck they should be ok

    In London. Keen but lazy.
  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    If you left the roots wrapped there is a good chance they will survive.  Fingers crossed time now!  If any of them haven't shown signs of growth by about mid-April, scrape the bark off near the top with your thumbnail - if green then they are still alive.  If brown then try lower down but if brown all the way back to the base then they have snuffed it.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • geum keenbutgreengeum keenbutgreen Posts: 508
    Oh, fingers crossed in that case! It's a whole mix of different shrubs - forsythia, cornus, deutzia, ribes- ten in total, all different.
  • primrosecottageprimrosecottage Posts: 817

    Hi guysimage and Verdun i did the same with a tub of blueberry gelato at Christmas  image stuck it in the freezer and still eating eating it now image waste not want notimage

    Stick with them Keen I'm sure they'll come good image

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    Sounds like we bought the same offer keenbutgreen. image  Mine were potted-up about 3-4 days after arrival so if we both have the same fatalities it may be down to the supplier - let's keep in touch about this as the roots on mine already looked pretty dry when they arrived.

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • geum keenbutgreengeum keenbutgreen Posts: 508

    I imagine you're right on getting the same offer, Bob image Yes that would be great, will be good to compare how they do.

  • BobTheGardenerBobTheGardener Posts: 11,391

    Keenbutgreen, just to report that all of my bare-root shrubs from the pack are now showing signs of life apart from the Deutzia which I think is dead - bark peeling off right to the base.  I thought the Weigela was also dead but spotted new shoots coming up from below soil level this morning. image  How are yours looking?

    A trowel in the hand is worth a thousand lost under a bush.
  • geum keenbutgreengeum keenbutgreen Posts: 508

    Hi BobTheGardener - most of mine have also shown signs of life! I have two I think won't make it - I can't remember which ones they are for sure without looking but I think one was the Deutzia, too. Oh, and in addition the Forsythia looks like a possible goner but I still have hope as that was the one I really wanted to do well!

  • geum keenbutgreengeum keenbutgreen Posts: 508

    Hi aym, that's good to know, thankyou! I do have a large established one on the driveway, so I can always have a go at that if this new one proves a goner... 

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