Which is better for shrub planting: bare-root or containerized?

[Heruga]

Zone 7a in norther NJ here. I will be buying 4 forsythias 'lynwood gold's soon to fill in a 25 feet gap in a hedge. The area gets part sun. Is bare root better for this or should I not risk it and go containerized?

 

[marlingardener]

Forsythia is very hardy, so personally I'd go bare-root. Just make sure that the new plants are settled in firmly in the soil, keep them watered well until the first frost, and then wait until spring to give them a light fertilizing.

 

[Becky]

Agreed. Autumn is a good time to plant bare root shrubs - as long as you can get it in the ground fairly quickly so that the roots don't dry out.