Bare root planting is the easiest and most cost-effective way to plant trees and shrubs. Pictured above is witch hazel, bare root on left and with container on right. Photo courtesy of Turnbull ...

While we may not all be lucky enough to have a stunning native tree pop up in our yard, we can get pretty close to that same sense of effortless landscaping by choosing a bare root tree.

Trees and shrubs may be sold bare-root in late winter or early spring so they can be shipped while they are still dormant. “Most bare-root plants will be young and small,” Yiesla said.