🌱 Planting Bare-Root Trees, Shrubs & Hedges in December in Scotland
- info673
- 4 days ago
- 2 min read
December is one of the best months in Scotland to plant bare-root trees, shrubs, and hedging plants. With plants fully dormant, conditions are perfect for strong root establishment—setting your garden or landscape up for a healthy spring. 🌿
🌨️ Why Plant Bare-Root in December?
Bare-root plants are lifted and sold without pots, making them affordable, lightweight, and easy to handle. December offers:
❄️ Cool, moist soil for stress-free root growth
💷 Better value compared to container-grown plants
🌱 Excellent establishment before spring
Just avoid planting when the ground is frozen or waterlogged.
🌳 What You Can Plant Now
Trees: 🌳 birch, rowan, hazel, hawthorn, oak, apple, pear, plum. Shrubs: 🌿 dogwood, willow, elder, flowering currant. Hedges: 🌾 beech, hornbeam, hawthorn, blackthorn, privet, mixed native hedging
Perfect for wildlife gardens, windbreaks, and boundary planting. 🐦
🛠️ How to Plant Bare-Root Stock
1. Prepare the Roots💧 Soak roots for 30 minutes and keep them covered until planting.
2. Dig the Hole🕳️ Twice as wide as the root spread and only as deep as the stem’s original soil mark.
3. Plant & Backfill🌱 Spread roots naturally. Backfill, firm gently, and water well—even in winter.
4. Mulch & Protect🍂 Add 5–8 cm mulch to conserve moisture.🦌 Use guards or spirals to protect from rabbits, deer, and strong winds.
🌿 Hedge Spacing Guide
🌾 Native mixes: 6–8 plants per metre (double staggered row)
🍃 Beech or hornbeam: 4–5 per metre
🌵 Hawthorn/blackthorn: 6–7 per metre
🌱 Privet: 4–5 per metre
💦 Water well after planting.
❄️ Winter Aftercare
✔️ Check stakes and guards after windy weather
✔️ Keep the area weed-free
✔️ Water during dry spells
✔️ Top up mulch in early spring
Your bare-root plants will settle in over winter and burst into life by spring. 🌷
Comments