How Sold

Advantages

Disadvantages

Bare Root

With roots in moisture-holding medium such as peat or moss.

Least expensive

Roots adapt to existing soil better than B&B planting.

Roots prone to drying if not kept moist during transplanting.

Not practical for large plants.

Availability may be more seasonal.

Balled & Burlapped

With roots contained in ball of soil that's wrapped with burlap, cloth, wire, etc.

Better survival rate than BR stock, for amateur planter.

Harder to handle than bare-root stock due to weight of the soil ball.

Container Stock

With roots in numbered containers that correspond to a tree size.

Slightly easier to handle than B&B.

Better survival rate than BR because of extensive root size.

Continuous availability

Same as for balled and burlap

Circling roots very common.

Root problems likely if tree is too large for the container.