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Bare Root Walters Gardens is one of the largest field growers of perennials in the US, with over 1,500 acres dedicated to bare root production. In West Michigan, we are blessed with sandy loam soil and moderate temperatures from our close proximity to Lake Michigan. Perennials thrive in our fields, most reaching saleable size in just one growing season. Our bare root perennial guide is meant to help you with the entire process of growing our perennials to finished size. To learn more about our bare root sizes, see p. 4. Roots Fibrous Root Taproot Rhizome Corm A mass of profusely branched roots, often with no main taproot. Typically easy to divide. Ex: Achillea, Veronica, Daylilies The main descending root of a plant, often with little branching. Division is not recommended. Ex: Gypsophila or Baptisia A horizontal underground stem with branching close to the soil surface. Roots and shoots are often produced along its length. Ex: Siberian Iris A solid, underground, bulb-like portion of the stem of a plant bearing roots at the base. Ex: Crocosmia Divisions Eye A bud or shoot atop the crown of a plant from which foliage grows. Some perennials that are graded by their number of eyes include Paeonia, Astilbe, and Hosta. Fan A fan refers to an individual unit of a clump that includes one crown with a set of leaves and roots attached. Hemerocallis are typically graded by their number of fans. 6 | Walters Gardens
Bare Root Scheduling delivery of your bare root perennials As a grower, you know that timing is everything. Sometimes it takes a little experimenting to figure out what works best in your specific climate. To help take the guesswork out of finishing your bare root perennials, we offer you some guidelines in our timing chart on p. 3. Be sure to keep in mind that finish times vary by variety and growing environment. As a general rule for many perennials, schedule delivery of your spring order in time to allow 6-10 weeks of growing time for 1-gal containers in a cool 50-60°F greenhouse. If plants will be grown outdoors with no frost protection, schedule delivery after risk of hard frost has passed as it is important to keep plants from freezing. What to do when your plants arrive Step 1: Open the Boxes When your order arrives, it is important to open all of the boxes and transplant all of the roots as soon as possible. Be sure to have plant labels on hand when potting to ensure correct identification. If you are not able to transplant the roots immediately, they may be stored in a cool (35-40°F) area for a limited time. Step 2: Inspect the Roots When you open the boxes, check the condition of the bare root plants. They should be firm, relatively dry, and typically are light brown in color. Since some bare root plants may have been stored in freezers where humidity is present, light surface mold may appear on some roots. It is not harmful to the plant and typically disappears once the boxes are opened and good air circulation is provided. It is not necessary to spray them with fungicide or remove the surface mold, though some customers prefer to do so. If any roots are still frozen, allow them to thaw slowly in a cool (40- 50°F) room before handling. Do not put them immediately into a warm greenhouse. If the roots are dry, soak them in a tub of water containing a small amount of soluble fertilizer for one hour before potting. This will help the plants get established more quickly. If you are concerned about the condition of the plants in your shipment, contact your sales representative or broker or Walters Gardens, Inc. immediately so the issue can be resolved quickly. Step 3: Determine Planting Order The highest priority for transplanting bare root perennials should be given to all evergreen types such as Iberis, Lavandula, and Phlox subulata. Since their foliage is evergreen, these types of perennials can dessicate more quickly if left exposed. Those perennials which have thick, fleshy roots can typically be held over a bit longer before planting. However, remember to pot up all of your bare root material as soon as possible after receipt. Step 4: When You’ve Finished Planting We highly recommend that you apply a broad spectrum fungicide drench at the time of transplant to prevent crown and root rots. This is an important step that may take time now, but will save you time and money in the long run. After the drench has been applied, move the newly potted plants into a cool 50-60°F location with high light levels. Leave them there until roots have been established, and then raise the temperature slightly or move them to a warmer greenhouse to encourage top growth. www.WaltersGardens.com • 1-888-925-8377 • sales@waltersgardens.com | 7
Page 1 and 2: TM Simple, Sensible, Solutions ® A
Page 3 and 4: Product Profile Timing Chart Produc
Page 5: Product Profile Plug Liners Many of
Page 9 and 10: Bare Root When watering perennials
Page 11 and 12: Plugs / Liners Scheduling delivery
Page 13 and 14: Plugs / Liners Once the plants are
Page 15 and 16: Culture Guide Water by Number Prope
Page 17 and 18: Plant Growth Regulator (PGR) Recomm
Page 23 and 24: Culture Guide Echinacea (Coneflower
Page 25 and 26: Culture Guide When planting in the
Page 27 and 28: Culture Guide Spigelia This stunnin
Page 29 and 30: Grower’s Reference Chart Recommen
Page 35 and 36: Common Insects Affecting Herbaceous
Page 37 and 38: Plant Health Common Diseases Affect
Page 39 and 40: Benefits of Summer and Early Fall P
Page 41 and 42: Overwintering Recommendations Overw
Page 43 and 44: Additional Resources Growing perenn

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