Garden centers don’t want you to know it, but January is a great time to get a head start on summer planting. Putting roots into the ground right now means you can make serious savings on peak-season prices, and enjoy bigger plants with more flowers to boot, for many summers to come.
The secret to savvy winter spending is simple: buy perennial plants that are currently dormant. And, thankfully, there are plenty of gorgeous garden classics to choose from.
Why Are These Plants So Cheap?
Because dormant plants aren’t actively growing, the roots can be sent through the mail without a pot or compost, saving a heap on postage and packaging.
Plants are much cheaper to produce this way, too, and the price tag also reflects the fact that customers won’t be tempted to make an impulse purchase with the promise of blooms in a few weeks.
Some companies also make savings by offering pre-ordering, so they can dig up and send out multiple orders in one batch.
Our Pick of the Best Bargains
Bare root plants are just as easy as potted ones to add to your garden. All you need do is soak the roots for a few hours before planting, then wait for the magic to happen: as the soil warms up, the plant will naturally wake up and start growing.
Just make sure the ground isn’t fully frozen or waterlogged when you plant – be sure to check your planting zone before you order. If there’s a cold or stormy snap when your roots arrive, and you need to wait a few days before planting, simply store them in a cool but frost-free shed or garage out of the sun, covered in damp sawdust or soil until the weather improves.
Whatever you do, don’t bring them indoors where warmth will wake them from dormancy.
1. Roses
Planting roses bare root is the very best way to add Rosa to your garden, as the root system gets a head-start before the stress of summer hits. All types of roses can be planted bare root, but modern English shrub roses are a great option for both flower power and disease resistance.
This recently introduced repeat-flowering ‘Penelope Lively’ cultivar from David Austin Roses brings berry-red buds that bloom into fragrant cup-shaped flowers, gradually fading to a pretty lavender hue.
When planting, sprinkling the roots with Mycorrhizal Fungi like Rootmax from Amazon will encourage strong growth.
2. Peonies
Another classic that no garden should be without, peonies (Paeonia) make excellent cut flowers. Though they only bloom for a short time, these sensational ruffles of petals more than make up for their fleeting flower power. Plant a collection that bloom in succession like this Peony Roots Pastel Mix from Eden Brothers and you’ll enjoy soft-hued flowers on sturdy stems for weeks on end.
Don’t forget a lightweight pair of secateurs like these Gardeness Japanese Titanium Pruning Shears from Amazon to make cutting those armfuls of fragrant blooms a breeze.
3. Daylilies
Low-maintenance daylilies (Hemerocallis) are such an easy way to add a pop of colour to your borders, and getting roots in the ground now means you’ll have plenty of blooms by summer. Incredibly drought-resistant, after an initial watering in, they'll sail through summer without much attention from you.
This 10-pack of Mixed Color Daylily Roots from Amazon offers a kaleidoscope of bright hues. A narrow planting spade such as the Wiker Sharp Shooter Shovel from Amazon makes digging the holes in crowded beds much easier.
4. Hostas
Shade-tolerant hostas will turn a dull corner into a lush oasis of heart-shaped leaves, especially if you mix and match varieties such as this pack of six Mixed Colour Hosta Plants from Amazon.
Their trumpet-shaped flowers are full of nectar for pollinators in summer, too. They grow well from bare roots but can be sensitive to the cold so, depending on your zone, wait till the last frost has passed before planting or start them off in pots of compost indoors.
5. Red Hot Pokers
If you’re in a warmer zone or enjoy a sheltered garden, then you can plant red hot pokers (Kniphofia) now and take advantage of rock-bottom prices. Seriously low-maintenance, these are great plants to pop in a front border as they don't require much care, and this Votaniki Red Hot Poker from Amazon will flower from mid to late summer, filling that tricky late-season gap.
Just make sure you give them well-drained soil. If you’re in a colder zone, then you can start these roots in pots with good drainage such as these Dunpute 1 Gallon Pots from Amazon in a frost-free garage or greenhouse.
6. Sea Hollies
Bumblebees and butterflies love Eryngium for its abundant nectar as much as gardeners adore it for architectural shape and stunning steely-blue tones.
This Eryngium Jos Eijking from Dutch Grown is especially garden-worthy on account of its intense colour and long flowering period from summer to mid-autumn, and the stems and seedheads last well through winter for showstopper structure.
The Added Benefits
There are plenty of reasons to choose bare roots besides saving money. A bare root gets to acclimatize slowly in the ground, so there’s no transplant shock which can stress a potted plant when it’s first planted out.
The roots will start growing as soon as spring beckons, getting established before the plant starts sending shoots up, creating a better support system for all the foliage and flowers that come later on. A wider range of varieties are often available, too.
Happy shopping, and enjoy your bumper summers of bargain blooms for years to come!
