Permies Poll: What is your preferred transplant technique?

I find that transplanting from a container plant tends to get off running faster than bareroot. I won't shy away from bareroot if the thing I am getting is not easily acquired but I do prefer potted plants.

I like bare root because they are easier to ship, work well when planting in the fall (which is when I often plant trees and shrubs), and I think they are easier to make sure you don't plant too deep.

I voted other because any of those methods may work, or not, depending on the plant and situation. I've been doing it long enough to know the differences. I know how to accommodate a plant of any type and when to reject it if it doesn't pass my inspection.  No matter, late fall or early winter is the only time I will plant a tree or other woody perennial with the exception of grape vines, they seem to prefer spring planting.

I prefer bareroot for trees because I haven't seen a potted tree that didn't have circling root bound roots in the pot. For perennials potted is just fine.

If I get a plant in a pot I will wash or rub the soil out and any root knots—or cut them if need be. Then I try to intertwine as best I can with the native soil and water in. This is usually successful for me, and the roots tend to develop more naturally. Thus I chose bare root.

I have also had lots of success with bare root trees. But not from Fedco, I think they sent them in too late in spring—right at the time when I was busiest, and when it’s starting to get dry and so very few of their bare root plants survived. I prefer to get them in fall as a result, and I heel them in until I can plant them.

It's not a brag but just a fact that very few people have personally, on their own, by themselves planted more trees than I have.  There are sixty-foot-tall oak trees in the town where I grew up that I planted. Eventually, I got tired of planting trees with all that digging and watering and fussing; I rarely do it anymore.  It is sooooo much easier and more effective to plant tree seeds. I've planted thousands of tree seeds in the general area where I live now and many of them are thirty feet tall or better.

I guess my actual answer to the specific pole question with the options presented should have been, other - none of the above.

I like the amount of soil I have to move around with bare-root trees.

Assuming this question is not limited to certain members of the plant kingdom, I am choosing air layering. Not because I am good at it, but rather I think it's so ingenious and also challenging. I have had moderate success. It's fun!

Mark Reed, can you please share your methods of just seed planting for trees please? I have about 90 acres, 50 or so of which were logged heavily before I acquired it. I would like to replant from seed oaks, evergreens, maples, poplars, trees that were logged and try to reduce/eliminate much of the brushy privet that has taken over in place of the Hardwoods that were logged. Thanks!