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Tree Planting Best Practices
A Review for Citizen Foresters
The Tools of the Trade
Pick Axe
Stake Driver
Rake

Shovel

Tarp
Bolt cutters

Safety glasses

Tool Bag

Pruners

Measuring tape

Knife

Scissors

Safety pin
The Tools of the Trade

Other accessories:
stakes, arbortie

trunk guard

deer guard

oozetube
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.
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.
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.
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
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!
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.
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
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.
Step 3: Hole Preparation

Set aside large rocks, those bigger than your fist.
Crew will haul them away.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Step 6. Backfill

If you have done a good job, the trees root flare is at grade.
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
Step 10. Highfive your team. Get Lunch.
If you ever have questions
or are unsure, just ask a staff
member.

Thanks for all you do.

More Related Content

Tree Planting Best Practices: A Review for Citizen Foresters

  • 1. Tree Planting Best Practices A Review for Citizen Foresters
  • 2. The Tools of the Trade Pick Axe Stake Driver Rake Shovel Tarp
  • 3. Bolt cutters Safety glasses Tool Bag Pruners Measuring tape Knife Scissors Safety pin
  • 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.
  • 25. Step 10. Highfive your team. Get Lunch.
  • 26. If you ever have questions or are unsure, just ask a staff member. Thanks for all you do.