Hmmmm, I am not sure what you are referring to in your post. However, we have planted tens of thousands of trees here bare root. On purpose. 99% of all forest property here is planted bear root. Conifer evergreen and deciduous trees as well. Oaks, ash, alder, firs, redwoods... also fruit trees. I buy my orchard trees from a guy here that has over 3,000 different types of fruit trees (mostly apples). I go over there in February and we just dig up trees bare root and I bring them home and plant them.
As for planting trees that are potted up... some of the trees I get bare root I pot up. I use a mix of local soil and ag perlite and peat. The peat breaks down and the potted soil reverts to local clay, so there is no abscission layer formed when they are planted later (any time, in or out of leaf). Also (I learned this when I got a cert. in horticulture) I cut the root ball with a knife, to force the roots to grow outward, and not in a loop in the soil. Nursery potted trees can be a problem with soil differences creating an abscission layer (boundary that the roots and water cannot grow through becasue of different soil type and chemistry). Again, cutting the roots with a knife will help prevent that from happening. I slice the outer potted roots about 1/2 inch deep with a razor box cutter. Usually a criss cross slice at the base, and 3 or 4 clices up the sides. Same with a burlap balled tree; cut the ropes and remove any wire, and slice and dice the roots right through the burlap. The burlap can be removed, or left. It will rot pretty fast. Works for me.
