This document provides best practices for citizen foresters to plant trees. It outlines the necessary tools, describes different types of tree stock that may be planted, and provides a 10 step process to successfully plant a tree with a team. The steps include setting up a work space, inspecting the tree, finding the root flare, digging a hole, placing the tree, backfilling, staking, mulching, installing a watering device, and celebrating with the team. Attention to details like proper depth and care of the root system are emphasized to ensure high survival rates of the trees planted.
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Tree Planting Best Practices: A Review for Citizen Foresters
4. The Tools of the Trade
Other accessories:
stakes, arbortie
trunk guard
deer guard
oozetube
5. Balled & Burlaped
Container
Rootbag
We plant close to 2000 trees a year that are a mix of several stock types including
those shown above and occasionally bare-root.
There are some nuances to planting these different stock types; however, you should
follow the next 10 steps to successfully plant a tree with your team.
6. Step 1: Set up your Work Space and Inspect your Tree
-Layout tarp to place soil spoils on.
-Remove twine from canopy.
-Check for any dead or broken branches and prune them.
Ask staff for help if you havent pruned before.
-Assess if any structural pruning cuts are needed to subordinate co-dominant stems or
remove rubbing or crossing branches.
7. Step 1: Set up your Work Space and Inspect your Tree
#Tip. Place tarp at the edge of where
you will be excavating. Too far and its
extra shoveling work.
Orient your strongest shovelers on the
far side of the tarp.
#Tip. Do canopy check
while trees low to ground.
8. Step 2: Find the Root Flare
Open up a small section of burlap to find where the structural roots sit in
the rootball;
You can excavate, gingerly, the rootbag or container medium to find the
root flare.
Assess where root
flare is
9. Step 2: Find the Root Flare
This step is so important! Trees that are planted too deep have more than
50% mortality.
Your goal is to
plant the tree, so
the root flare is
at grade!
10. Step 3: Hole Preparation
Use the pickaxe and shovel to break up
the turf. Set aside large pieces.
Grass competes with tree roots.
Use shovel to break up these clumps and
retain as much soil as you can for
backfill.
11. Step 3: Hole Preparation
Dig a hole 2 to 3 times as wide as
rootball/ container/ rootbag.
Indicate to your team the size of
the hole with measuring tape or a
wood stake.
3 x as wide
12. Step 3: Hole Preparation
The depth of hole
should be dug to a
depth that is no greater
than the height of the
rootball/ container/
rootbag.
The goal is to get the
root flare
at grade.
13. Step 3: Hole Preparation
Set aside large rocks, those bigger than your fist.
Crew will haul them away.
14. Step 4: Put tree in Hole and Straighten
-Check from all sides that tree
is straight.
-If tree is against a building, is
the best side facing outward?
-Work with team to maneuver tree
into hole.
-Handle tree with care.
-The rootball should be placed on top of
undisturbed soil.
-Center tree in hole & stabilize.
-Check again that root flare is at grade.
15. Step 5: Remove wire basket & burlap
Remove as much wire and
burlap as possible.
The cloth covering on
rootbag stock should be
removed.
Wire baskets are recycled.
Stomp on and set aside for
pickup.
16. Step 6. Backfill
LOW BERM around perimeter
Feet are
tools too!
Just by digging, you have cultivated the
soil, enhancing the pore space for water and air.
Place the soil back in the hole in stages.
Every few inches, very lightly tamp the soil
down with your feet or
settle the soil with water.
17. Step 6. Backfill
LOW BERM around perimeter
No soil
over
rootball
Do not place soil on top of the
rootball/ container/ rootbag.
Rake soil neatly into low mound
around tree.
If you have a lot of soil left over,
it can be hauled away, along with
rocks and debris.
18. Step 6. Backfill
Sometimes root flares are buried in the nursery.
Use the knife in your tool bag to gently excavate and remove soil away
from the trunk and root flare.
19. Step 6. Backfill
If you have done a good job, the trees root flare is at grade.
20. Step 7. Staking
-Install 2 or 3 stakes only as
necessary.
-Ask yourself, should they be
parallel to a
sidewalk/road/building/fence/
structure.
3 from tree
-Stakes should be set 3 out
from trunk.
Example of stakes on a slope
21. Step 7. Staking
2 separate
bowlines
-Create 2 separate Bowline knots to
attach arbortie to tree.
-Use a half hitch knot to attach
arbortie to stake.
22. Step 8. Mulching
Stakes within
mulched area
Install trunk guard/
deer guard
-Create 6 foot diameter mulch circle.
-Thickness should be no more than 2 inches.
-Keep mulch 3 inches away from trunk.
23. Step 9. Watering & Oozetubes
-Make sure to install oozetube upside right.
-Stake should be placed about 12 from trunk.
If on a slope the stake is set into the high side of the slope.
24. Step 9. Watering & Oozetubes
-With a safety pin put 3 holes into bottom of bag.
Larger holes will cause water to leak out too quickly.