Handling and Storing Southern Bareroot Seedlings

The handling and storage requirements for southern bareroot seedlings are similar to those for northern and western seedlings. Seedlings should be shipped and stored in refrigerated trucks and coolers at a constant temperature of 33 to 38 °F and never allowed to freeze. The seedlings should be unloaded quickly and carefully to reduce mechanical damage. The seedlings should be inspected to check tree vigor, root length, live roots, top caliper and height, color, mold, or fungus. The tree count should be checked. Specific instructions for inspections are listed in the Bareroot Seedlings Inspection section.

Southern bareroot seedlings can be broken down into two categories:

• Southern bareroot seedlings for fall planting
• Southern bareroot seedlings for winter and spring planting

Southern Bareroot Seedlings for Fall Planting

Fall planting (November, early December) has been successful when the seedlings are not stored. An advantage of early planting is that the seedlings become established during the winter and are ready to start growing shoots early in the spring. The seedlings will not be very dormant at the time of lifting at the nursery, but fall or "hot lift" planting can be successful if the soil at the planting site has adequate moisture. Chilling the seedlings to 33 to 38 °F at the nursery is useful, but the seedlings should still be planted in a matter of days, 7 to 10 days at the longest.

Storage requirements for bareroot stock for fall planting are minimal. Typically, only enough trees are lifted, packed, and shipped for 1 day's planting. Long-term storage is not required. Portable coolers may be available for short-term storage. Provide a shaded storage area if coolers are not available. A tarp can be erected to shade the seedlings. Heat-reflective tarps are very effective. Be sure there is enough ventilation to prevent heat from building up in the packages. Also remember to move the seedlings or adjust the tarps to provide adequate shade as the sun moves throughout the day. Do not lay a tarp directly over the seedlings during the day. Be sure to leave plenty of air space between the seedling packages and between the tarp and the seedling packages. Temperatures inside seedling packages can quickly exceed 50 °F on sunny days, even when air temperatures are modest. Temperatures higher than 50 °F will quickly reduce the quality of the seedlings. (top)

Southern Bareroot Seedlings for Winter and Spring Planting

Southern conifers are usually planted as bareroot stock during the winter and spring. Planting occurs in late December through February in the Deep South and until March and April elsewhere in the South. The seedlings are lifted at the nursery in the winter when they are as nearly dormant as possible and are stored cold in closed bags or boxes. The seedlings may also be stored as bales. Seedlings packaged in bales can dissipate heat better than those in bags or boxes. seedlings can't be stored as long in bales as in bags or boxes, but they will fare better if cold storage is not available. Seedlings packaged in bales may have their roots coated with a clay slurry mixture to prevent them from drying out.

The seedlings should be stored at the district in refrigerated units, if possible. Temperatures should be maintained at 33 to 38 °F with humidities higher than 95 percent. If refrigeration is not available, a warehouse or shed can be used for storage as a last resort. The seedlings should not be stored as long in such facilities. Storage duration will vary depending on the outside temperature and humidity. As a general rule, if the temperatures inside the shed are between 33 and 38 °F, the seedlings can be stored for up to 8 weeks. As temperatures rise above 38 °F, seedlings can not be stored as long. Seedlings need to be monitored carefully to prevent permanent damage when temperatures are higher than 38 °F.