Setting Up A Tree Nursery
4. Prepare the site - Choose between 'bare-rooted' or 'potted' seedlings?
Bare-rooted seedlings are grown directly in the soil, in seedbeds. When they are ready to be moved, they are uprooted from the soil and taken to the planting place. This method is appropriate for cooler, moist areas where the bare roots won’t easily dry out during the move. Seedbeds drain more easily than pots, so the seedlings won’t get waterlogged.
Potted seedlings are grown in small pots or containers. When it is time to plant them out, they are transported to the planting place in their containers. This protects the roots from drying out when they are moved, so this method is appropriate for hotter, drier areas. Less water is needed to water seedlings in pots. But it is important to make sure that the containers or small pots can drain easily to avoid drowning the seedlings in too much water!
