It'd be fine to put it in a pot w/soil temporarily (you definitely don't want the bare roots to dry out). Then set it outside, preferably in shade before you can dig a hole.

Retail nurseries hold bareroot trees and shrubs in moist sawdust for sale. Since it is only a temporary 'hold' until you can plant, anything that protects the roots will work. And keep it cool.......you don't want it to come out of dormancy too early.

media ....not a bucket of water ... it isnt an aquatic ...

put seller on notice that you might make a claim later ...

presuming its dormant.. keep it dormant as long as possible in out MI ... i might just pot it in some damp [not sodden media].... and put it on the north side of the house... and let it .. in its dormancy.. adapt to MI in march ...

i would fear.. if i put it in garage or barn.. that it would come out of dormancy a month or 2 early ...

if its not dormant when you get it.. send it back ...

if it comes out of dormancy in our MI .. frankly its at risk thru early may for frost of freeze damage ... potting it will help you move it around.. if necessary ...

i would probably plant it 3rd to 4th week of april .... if dormancy is maintained ....

ken

If it remains dormant, you can plant anytime the soil is workable. This is not a calendar issue :-))

Thanks, all. When the soil is workable depends on the weather, obviously. I did dig a hole and amend the fill last summer in prep to eventually plant a tree, so that's done already; it just a matter of waiting for soil to thaw and dry out enough to be workable. Could be anytime from late March onwards, it's just a waiting game. My soil is drains very well, it won't be sodden for long, if at all. I'll go ahead and pot it up and move it around if I need to.

I've been in a similar situation. Not with a cherry tree. With roses. If the ground is frozen you can pour hot or warm water on it. It will create a muddy mess, but you'll be able to dig and plant. if the tree is dormant, the sooner you put it in the ground the better IMO. Roots can grow without leaves, so the roots will get a head start.

"With roses. If the ground is frozen you can pour hot or warm water on it. It will create a muddy mess, but you'll be able to dig and plant."

That's brilliant! I never thought of that!

I've always found it convenient to put early-arriving bare root shrubs and trees in tubs that can be moved under cover in the event of heavy freezes, until the ground has dried out sufficiently so that I'm not working in muck. Sometimes trees are shipped with new growth emerging which can be killed back by unexpectedly cold temps (like the 13F we're supposed to get Sunday morning).