Anyone buy late season clearance Bareroot Perennials, Trees, and Shrubs?

Yes, I have been a distressed plant rescuer and researcher for a very long time.

My methods have worked well enough for me to consider them worth the time, cost and effort.  Where I have gone wrong is in buying something I won’t really want or need in the future.🤣

Like on the thread where we discuss whether we buy a plant on impulse, then figure out where to plant it, or do we have a list of plants we want-need, and strictly buy from that list.  For me, impulse buying extends into plant rescue!

First, I look at the condition of the root system.  I don’t mind if the top of the plant is crispy.  I want to see if the roots are also fried…. If so, it’s not my plant.

In box stores, a lot of plants go on mark down in midseason because their watering needs were neglected.  If it’s a leafy perennial like coreopsis it will come back if the roots weren’t killed along with the tops.  But if it’s a woody shrub, it’s more iffy.  There has to be “meristem tissue” present for regrowth to occur.  And there needs to be meristem in locations to grow into a plant with a decent shape.

In bare root, at least some of the roots must appear viable, or I have to be allowed to return for a refund.  I always clarify the return policy!

I usually soak the whole plant and roots in a transplant solution.  Years ago I got the habit of using a product called “super thrive”.  I think it is a combination of plant hormones nutrients vitamins.  I don’t think there’s any toxic gick in it, or fertilizers but if someone knows otherwise please speak up!

After soaking an hour, I plant the plant into an appropriate location.  In a container or the ground.

Next phase is important.  If I have planted in hot full sun, I will need to protect from the harsh sun and dry.  A mulch on the surface of the soil that will absorb water and release it will humidify the air, and a mulch of branches will shade the tops, and protect from the wind.  The mulching and frequent watering will maintain humidity.

It’s important to survey carefully the conditions where the plant now resides.

The plant isn’t likely to be enough intact to support photosynthesis and grow new roots, and grow new photosynthetic tissue, and gather water from the soil.  It needs protection and support while it pulls itself together and learns to be a plant again.  All the protection support and nurture the plant needs, will need to be provided.  How well I consider the gap between the conditions present, and the needs of the plant is a major contribution to the survival rate of the plant.

Good luck everybody on your plant rescue activities. 😊

The big box store aimed at supplying tractors has their small fruit trees marked down to around six dollars a piece... guess who got another plum tree!

Nothing like a deal on something that will hopefully produce for many years.

I asked my wife to intervene if I mention buying any more bushes or trees.

I think I have purchased about 30 in the last 2 weeks at very low prices. If 1/5 make it, it will have been worth it given the sale prices.

Every year, I watch as various companies sell leftover bare root fruit trees, shrubs, and perennials on deep clearance (often 50-75% off) late in May and in early June.
I have a 10 acre garden in Florida 15 miles north of Panama City, but live in Chicago.
Here is my experience;
3 years ago Home Depot was selling fruit trees for $10 on 4th July. I bought 15 and took them to FL in September and planted them, they all did well except a honey crisp that our yard man ran over with his lawnmower. Last 2 years Stark bros has been selling fruit trees for $18.16 each in May or June (there may be some pears left) and these I've potted up each year and taken them down in September to plant. The weather there is wet in the summer and dry in winter, so I don't like leaving them until November to plant. This year starks had them again, but we'd also already found $20 fruit trees at Menards. The Menards trees were potted but are not doing as well as the bareroot trees that I potted myself, 2 may not make it.
So for the questioner, yes, they can be purchased late, they come from cold storage so the buds are just opening when they arrive, but be careful to examine the trees from the big box stores to make sure they are really healthy. Also the stores like Home Depot do not take really good care of their plants, especially those in packets (berry plants etc.) and they are often already dead within a month of them arriving at the store. Your stores may take better care, but most in and around Chicago (Ace, HD, TCS, Lowes, Walmart) don't!

I ended up buying another lot of clearance plants this year. It arrived this week and i have almost everything planted at this point except for 3 bushes in pots i haven't quite figured out where to put yet.

I'm skeptical about the grapevine and the plum that I planted, but everything else looks like it will pull through!

If the plum makes it, i'll try to buy it a pollination partner when the big box store trees go on sale. Right now they're on 10% off, making them a $60-100 partner for a $20,tree - not a bargain!  Still, i bought 3 trees and 10 berries and bushes for less than the cost of 2 big box store fruit trees.

I have very little remaining on my plant wish list at this point, but have also blown my plant budget fior the year!