How to Plant a Bareroot Fruit Tree on the Oregon Coast

Bareroot season — typically January through early March on the Southern Oregon Coast — is the single best window to plant fruit trees. The trees are dormant, the soil is workable, and the roots have months to settle in before spring growth.

Why Bareroot?

Bareroot trees come without soil — just the bare roots, packed in damp wood shavings or moss. They establish faster than potted trees, cost less, and let you see exactly what kind of root structure you're working with.

Step-by-Step

1. Choose your spot. Most fruit trees want full sun (6+ hours). On the coast, look for a spot with some wind protection — our westerly winds can be brutal on young trees.
2. Soak the roots. When you bring the tree home, soak the roots in a bucket of water for 2–6 hours. Don't skip this.
3. Dig wide, not deep. Dig a hole twice as wide as the root spread, but only as deep as the roots themselves. The graft union (the bumpy spot where the variety meets the rootstock) should sit 2–4 inches above the soil line.
4. Spread the roots out. Make a small mound of soil in the bottom of the hole and drape the roots over it. Don't bend or curl them.
5. Backfill with native soil. Resist the urge to amend with rich compost — it can keep the roots from venturing out.
6. Water deeply. Soak the planting hole until the soil settles around the roots.
7. Mulch — but not against the trunk. A 3-inch ring of mulch keeps the soil moist and weeds down. Keep it 4 inches away from the trunk.

The Critical First Year

Water deeply once a week through the first dry season — usually June through September here. Stake only if the tree is in a windy spot, and remove the stake after one year so the trunk can build strength.

Best Bareroot Picks for the Coast

For our coastal climate, we recommend disease-resistant varieties: Liberty and Pristine apples, Frost and Stella peaches, and any of the European pears (less prone to scab than apples).

Stop by the nursery or call 541-844-5559 to see what we have in stock this season.