I've never order bare root trees before (when I buy them from my normal place he has done all that stuff so they just need earth), but I may do it one day. Is the soak for any specific reason or just to keep them hydrated until planting?

Melike...Aw man! And we just got snow! Just seeing the bare root has me itchin'. I guess I could always get the chain out and yank some undesirable pop-up trees with my tractor that have grown in my field. Happy planting.
ps. Remind your wife of their luscious flavors and aromas and all the money you'll save! hahahaha

"Is the soak for any specific reason or just to keep them hydrated until planting?"

Wizzard,

The idea behind soaking is to rehydrate the trees. Tree roots can dry out some during digging and storage, and the soak is to compensate for that.

Personally, I think some of the recommendations from nurseries and some extension services are dated. There are recommendations to soak for 12-24 hrs. which seems excessive to me.

Roots need oxygen and depriving them of it will cause tissue death of roots. I've not seen research on how long dormant rootstocks will tolerate flooding before root loss begins but would be interested in seeing the research.

I do know for water intolerant rootstocks like apricot, visual symptoms of flooding can occur on the in as little 24 hrs. in the growing season. That would indicate to me root loss starts to occur much sooner than that. Peaches are a little more tolerant but still don't like their roots in water.

I've read that if it's a choice between the roots being too dry, or too wet, it's better to opt for the former. Dry roots don't typically die, they just go in a temporary dormant type stasis, whereas roots too wet die and the tree has to regrow them.

Lastly, I think soaking is simply unnecessary excect perhaps in very sandy soils. Generally people give trees a thorough watering at planting, so the trees are sitting in a very wet environment for days, which should give the roots ample opportunity to rehydrate.

I quit soaking trees a long time ago and in fact don't even water at planting anymore. We get lots of Spring rain and our heavy soils hold a lot of moisture and are already wet at planting.

Wow! I'm with Noogy, can't wait to put on my spray gear and grab the loppers! Also can't wait to hear how you do with your 'Arctic Jay' in No. Cal. Mine tripled in size its first year. It is a borer magnet for sure, but the fruit were on the small side but delicious. It will only be a four year old tree this year. So thats what a bathtub is for! LOL Mrs. G

I hope you're outside right now, digging! I like to give new bare-roots a soak, but not more than a couple of hours.

I dug yesterday so I could that I could just stick them in this morning. They were all in before the sun hit the backyard, about 8am I guess.

I'm experimenting with 2 in 1 hole planting. I'd like to cut the peaches/nectarines down more but they are 3/4" caliper. Maybe I'll post a thread getting some advice.

Here is my Yellow Newton Pippin and Red Fuji 2 in 1

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I went to Emma Prusch Park here in SJ after I planted for the CRFG Scion exchange. I took a picture of some more established 2 in 1 and 4 in 1 plantings at their Heritage Orchard. Hopefully mine will make it this far.

Emma Prusch 2 in 1

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Emma Prusch 4 in 1

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I soak as much as overnight but always outdoors in cold water. Indoors at room temperature you are just pushing trees out of dormancy. Not a big deal in CA but could be in TX where our trees break dormancy a month too early.

I think trees in general tolerate flooding much longer when dormant in cold soil than during summer.

I agree with a lot of the other posters. I don't think it's worthwhile to soak unless it's to soak the roots in a solution with root stimulant (e.g. superthrive) or you intend to plant in soil that doesn't retain much water. I guess a third situation exists if you haven't had time to dig out the hole and it's going to take a while to do so (caliche type situations). If you don't intend to plant ASAP then you should consider heeling the trees in wet potting spil.