Storing Trees

If you are unable to plant your container-grown or bare-root tree straight away, you will need to store it so that the roots remain moist.

If planting is delayed by just a few days:

• Wrap the plant roots loosely with newspaper or old sacking (not plastic) to keep the soil around the roots intact.
• Leave the plants loosely stacked against a wall in an unheated but frost-proof place, such as a garage, garden shed or cellar.
• Check the plants regularly and water them if the roots get dry.

If planting is delayed for longer than 4 days, you will need to heel in the tree:

• Dig a small trench in a sheltered position, such as a corner of a vegetable plot, or a space in a border.
• Make sure the trench is a spade's depth on one side and sloping upwards at about 45 degrees on the other.
• Lay the tree along the angled side so that the trunk is supported.
• Cover the roots and base of the trunk with moist soil.
• As you fill in the trench, break up any large lumps in the soil.
• Firm the soil by treading it down with your feet.
• Make sure that the soil around the roots of the plants does not dry out.