Tree Planting Best Practices

A Review for Citizen Foresters

The Tools of the Trade

Stake Driver

Pick Axe

Shovel

Tarp

Rake

Tool Bag

Bolt cutters

Safety glasses

Pruners

Measuring tape

Knife

Scissors

Safety pin

The Tools of the Trade

Other accessories:

deer guard oozetubetrunk guardstakes, arbortie

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 haven’t 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. Do canopy check

while tree’s low to ground.

#Tip. Place tarp at the edge of where

you will be excavating. Too far and it’s

extra shoveling work.

Orient your strongest shovelers on the

far side of the tarp.

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.

-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.

-Check from all sides that tree

is straight.

-If tree is against a building, is

the best side facing outward?

Step 4: Put tree in Hole and Straighten

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

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.

Feet are tools too!

LOW BERM around perimeter

Step 6. Backfill

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.

LOW BERM around perimeter

No soil over rootball

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 tree’s 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

-Create 2 separate Bowline knots to

attach arbortie to tree.

-Use a half hitch knot to attach

arbortie to stake.

2 separate bowlines

-Create 6 foot diameter mulch circle.

-Thickness should be no more than 2 inches.

-Keep mulch 3 inches away from trunk.

Step 8. Mulching

Install trunk guard/ deer guard

Stakes within mulched area

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.