According to Alan Buckingham, author of The Allotment Calendar, bare root fruit trees or bushes must be planted before the ...

The most commonly planted fruit trees are apple trees but you ... bought either in a container or bare-rooted. In both cases look for well-developed fibrous roots. For container grown trees ...

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.