Ground Ready Plants — Strong, Mature Trees & Plants for Permanent Planting
Deep-rooted, open-soil grown plants selected for long-term success — perfect for orchards, food forests, and restoration projects.
Little Tree Farms- Ground ready plants!!
Ground ready plants are field-grown, professionally dug, and delivered with open-root systems ready for immediate planting. If you’re looking for ground ready plants that establish deeply, resist winter stress, and deliver long-term performance, our nursery-grade stock is grown and handled to commercial standards. This page explains when to choose ground-ready stock, how to plant it properly, and what to expect in the first season.
Why choose ground ready plants?
Deep, natural root systems
Ground-grown plants develop long, vigorous roots that search for water and nutrients — giving them superior anchorage and drought resilience compared with pot-grown stock.
Better long-term performance
Once planted correctly, ground-ready trees adapt to site conditions faster and tend to outgrow potted stock in the second and third seasons.
Larger, more mature stock available
Ground-ready material is often larger and more developed — excellent when you need an immediate landscape impact or starting an orchard.
Cost-effective for large plantings
If you’re planting many trees (windbreaks, orchards, restoration), ground-ready stock offers a better price-per-volume and long-term value.
What you get with every ground-ready plant
Professionally dug, field-grown root systems
Cleanly trimmed roots (if required) and pre-plant care
Grading by size — consistent standards for orchards
Shipping instructions and planting sheet included
Winter hardiness classification and planting zone info
Bulk shipping / pallet options available for larger orders
Best-Selling Ground Ready Plants
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American Elm Tree
From $15.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageClearA gradeB grade -
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American Persimmon
From $7.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageClearJumboA gradeB gradePot-Ready -
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Black Locust
From $5.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageClearA gradeB grade -
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Black Walnut Tree (juglans nigra)
From $11.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageClearA gradeB grade -
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Blackcurrant (Ribes nigrum)
From $7.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageClearA gradeB grade -
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Buartnut Tree
From $11.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageClearA gradeB grade -
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Butternut Tree
From $13.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageClearA Grade - ButternutB Grade - ButternutA Grade - Hybrid Butternut -
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Chestnut Trees
From $9.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageA gradeB gradeC gradeClearHenryiDunstanChineseHybrid -
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EASTERN BUTTONBUSH (Cephalanthus occidentalis)
From $5.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageClearA gradeB gradePot-Ready -
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Elderberry Tree
From $7.00Select options This product has multiple variants. The options may be chosen on the product pageElderberryBob Gordon - ElderberryBig Berry ElderberryClearB gradeA gradePot-Ready
How to Plant Ground-Ready Trees & Shrubs — Detailed Guide
Ground-ready plants require careful handling and good soil preparation. Follow these steps for reliable establishment and long-term growth.
Step-by-step
Step 1 — Time it right
Best planting windows: early spring (before budbreak) or autumn (after leaf drop but before deep freeze). Avoid planting in midsummer heat unless you can guarantee regular deep watering.
Step 2 — Pre-soak and inspect roots
Before planting, submerge roots in a clean tub of water for 1–2 hours to rehydrate. Inspect for broken roots or desiccated tissue — prune only cleanly damaged parts.
Step 3 — Prepare the planting site
Dig a wide planting hole (wider than the root spread) but only as deep as the root flare. Loosen surrounding soil to encourage root expansion — avoid creating a deep planting pocket.
Step 4 — Position the root flare
Place the plant so the root flare (where trunk widens to roots) sits at or slightly above final grade. Ground-ready stock may sit lower in the field; correcting depth is vital to avoid stem rot.
Step 5 — Spread and angle roots
Gently fan roots outward — never crowd or coil them. For trees with a dominant tap root, angle it slightly downward to encourage natural rooting.
Step 6 — Backfill & firm carefully
Backfill with native soil — do not add excessive compost in the planting hole (amend only if soil is terrible). Firm the soil gently to remove large air pockets, then water slowly to settle.
Step 7 — Mulch & moisture management
Apply 2–4 inches of organic mulch around the root zone (keep 3–5 cm away from the trunk). For the first year, water deeply once per week (more in drought), avoiding frequent shallow watering.
Step 8 — Staking, protection & winter care
Stake only if necessary for stability. Use tree guards if rodents are an issue. For ground-ready trees planted in late autumn, apply a protective mulch and monitor spring thaw for heaving.
Aftercare: What to expect in season one & two
First 4–8 weeks: focus on consistent deep watering.
First year: watch for transplant shock (wilting, leaf drop). Prune only dead branches.
Year two: root system expands — reduce frequency, increase depth of watering.
Fertilizer: hold off heavy feeding until the plant shows active, healthy growth — consider a light slow-release feed in Spring of year two.