Viburnum -- plant now, or wait a bit longer?

9 years ago

I received an, I'm assuming, bare root Japanese Snowball Viburnum from a friend as a gift last week. It's a Van Zyverden brand. I'm right on the line between Zone 7 and 8. It's March 3rd and we have a freeze warning tonight and freeze watch tomorrow night (expected 31 degrees tonight, 34 tomorrow night) -- then warming back up to the 70s in the day and 45-50 at night (extended 10 day forecast). Of course, we have been known to get late frosts in early April.

I have purchased enough mulch to put 2" mound of mulch around the planting once I set it in the ground.

Is it safe to plant it tomorrow? Or Sunday? Or should I wait a couple more weeks?

I have never planted a plastic-wrapped bare root shrub before, and I'm not sure how to do it -- OR how or where to store it till I'm ready. (It says to soak the roots 2 hours before planting, but doesn't tell what temperature to store it in until planting, OR when to plant.)

Thanks!

Featured Answer

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

9 years ago

that is what you do .. it will stay in dormancy.. until the soil warms enough to trigger it ... ma nature is better at taking care of all that ...

i hope you took the time to compare my link.. with how you did it .... now is the time to fix it ...

ken

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

Embothrium
9 years ago
Get it out of the bag and in the ground ASAP.
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
9 years ago
Absolutely. This plant is very hardy and can be planted whenever the ground is diggable. While you're digging the hole immerse the roots in a bucket of water. Water really well after planting.
Related Professionals
Dalton Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tupelo Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Winona Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tucson Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Santa Maria Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Tacoma Landscape Architects & Landscape Designers · Cambridge Landscape Contractors · Westminster Landscape Contractors · Hattiesburg Landscape Contractors · Oklahoma City Landscape Contractors · Middletown Home Builders · Belleville Home Builders · Carbondale Home Builders · Burlington Home Builders · Vancouver Home Builders
PNW-Transplant
9 years ago
If you aren't ready for the permanent planting yet you could try heeling in. Key words to search "heel in bare root stock". Here's a video of a nice Irish man showing how to do it-

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_ynG8cENkvM
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
9 years ago
is it dormant or leafed out???

read link ... ken

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub
Project Tackler
Original Author
9 years ago
It's dormant. I planted it yesterday. Followed all the rules for planting a dormant viburnum. Fingers are crossed!
Project Tackler
Original Author
9 years ago
Yep! Picked site with adequate sun/shade standards, soaked root, filled dig site back with original soil plus garden soil mixed in, and mulched, creating a moat...watering as required. Thanks all!
rhizo_1 (North AL) zone 7
9 years ago
In the future, Project, fall is an ideal time to plant woody plants in those USDA zones, followed by winter. Waiting until warm weather is not a good thing, except for very tender annuals or herbaceous perennials.