Probably a silly question about planting...

[Bess]

Got a little Prunus 'Amanogowa' from Van Meuwen today looks good. But, the planting instructions for trees and shrubs left me a bit fuzzy. I get that I need to improve the soil, plant it at a certain height, stake it etc.

Can someone tell me, is it OK to plant a bare root cherry outside now - in the frost, heavy rain etc? It's supposed to be quite nasty and cold for a week or two at least. I have heavy clayey soil in that area (working on improving it, but a newly dug border) It's on a slope, so while it does get pretty soggy in this weather, it does drain OK-ish.

I don't really want to put it in a pot as the instructions state it then has to be kept in a greenhouse or somewhere, frost free, I suppose to stop the roots freezing. And my greenhouse is bursting at the seams...

[SueA]

It should be fine Bess, I had a lovely Amanagowa which I planted at our old house, I just dug a hole & plonked it in & it did it's own thing, grew to about 30foot tall & was still going strong about 25 years later when we left ( new people have since chopped it down I've been told! ). I've planted one here as well, only about 5ft tall at the moment but I didn't stake either of them & only put a sprinkle of bonemeal in the holes when I planted them. I am a bit worried about the one here as we have very damp clay-ish soil as well but it seems O.K. so far. Now is the ideal time to plant most bare root trees & as long as the ground isn't frozen solid or totally sodden so I'd get it in.

[Bess]

Thank you SueA. In that case I will try and get it in ASAP before it does freeze hard.

[vc]

Hello Bess.
a tad late I guess offering any advice to you (no doubt your tree is already planted) but with trees and many shrubs using mycorrhizal fungi is helpful I think.  Used to think this was one of those over hyped products but it seems to enable quicker establishment and produce stronger plants.  I often use it where appropriate now 

[Rosie]

I use mycorrhizal too, its good stuff

[Lou78W]

Yes to all comments above:......I've got one....its been in a pot for about 3/4 years now......must think about getting it in the ground sometime soon....lol

[Bess]

Thank you btw vc . Yes it's planted some weeks ago, and seems to be surviving despite the crazy weather (which is more than I can say for a few of the shrubs I planted earlier in the year but I'll give them a chance.) I have heard of the Mycorrhizal Fungi but tbh, I thought it was a bit of a gimmick too. If it's that good, I'd better try some, and maybe my shrubs will survive the weather next time round!

[vc]

Bess, myccorhizal fungi is pretty well proven now.....not for everything though; herbaceous and ericaceous for example not necessary.  Have faith....those shrubs planted last year were just settling in and will prob thrive this coming season . 

[Cherry]

Pleased the tree is doing well Bess.