Fruit trees and bushes are available to buy in three different ways: as containerised, container-grown or bare-root plants. There are pros and cons to each type.
Bare-root fruit trees and bushes have been lifted from the ground and come with no soil around their roots. Find out how to plant a bare-root tree.
Containerised fruit plants have been lifted from the ground prior to sale and then planted into a pot with soil.
Container-grown fruit plants have been grown in the pots you buy them in, so the roots haven’t been disturbed.
Read on to find out which type of fruit plant is best for you, depending on the time of year, the varieties you’re looking for and your budget.
Bare-root fruit plants
- Gardener holding a bare-root shrub
- Available only when dormant (Nov to March)
- Wide choice of varieties
- Usually cheaper
- Need to be planted straightaway, but then establish well
Containerised fruit plants
- Planting a containerised plant in a pot
- Usually only available in autumn and winter
- More expensive than bare-root, but cheaper than container-grown
- Establish quickly, like bare-root plants
Container-grown fruit plants
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Planting out a container-grown plant
- More expensive than bare-root or containerised plants
- They may be pot-bound
- They are available all year round
- They don’t need to be planted as urgently as bare-root plants
