Soil should be firmed around the plant leaving a slight saucer-like depression. Fill the depression with water and allow it to soak in. This important step firms the soil around the roots, drives out air pockets and puts the soil in contact with the roots. The depression should then be filled with loose soil to avoid standing water. Some bare root plants will pop in a few days while others may take as long as six to eight weeks to make their appearance.
Some plants just take longer to wake up from their naps.
Some roots are unusual in appearance and it is difficult to determine the growing point. To solve this dilemma lay the perennial horizontally just under the soil surface. When the plant starts to grow and the crown can be identified reposition the plant so the crown is just below the soil surface and the roots are spread out vertically. The growing point will straighten out naturally. Fleshy roots such as daylilies with large crowns should be set on a little mound of soil in the center of the hole allowing the roots to trail down.