t should take off nicely when planted.

I'm following the planting directions - soak roots for 3-6 hours, then plant in a hole wider than you think it should be, water it in, and mulch on top. My soil is very rich, but very heavy clay. I will likely sprinkle a little bone meal or rooting hormone just to give a little added vigor to the roots pushing through the thick soil. I'm ensuring that the soil is well broken up and not packed down too firmly since the heavy clay could otherwise smother the new roots, I think. As the tree grows up to a mature height, I don't expect I'll need to do much shaping to it. This little twig has dormant buds all along it, plenty of beginning roots, and looks like it's ready to take off! Once it reaches a more mature height, I will prune off lower branches to allow a canopy underneath, but that'll be several years away.

Don't be frightened of a small, bare root tree. When they're planted small, it's much easier to dig the hole for them, you likely don't need to stake it to keep it in the ground (in theory, this allows the trunk to grow stronger), and you can ensure that it grows to perfectly fit the home you are giving it. Just like kids, they also tend to grow fastest when they've got the farthest left to go. Just be patient and you will be rewarded with a beautiful tree! Read LessRead less about This bare root tree arrived well