"How to" Planting Instructions
Planting a tree or any other plant is really very simple, and applicable for trees, shrubs, berries, flowers, and almost everything (except Orchids). Basically, you keep the roots moist, dig a hole, stick it in, and water it. A properly planted tree or
shrub will be more tolerant of planting conditions and require much less care than one that is planted incorrectly, so it is worth spending a few extra minutes doing it correctly. Smaller plants live better and establish faster than large plants, and
are more economical. Bare-root plants do best planted while they are dormant, and plants on pots can be planted anytime of the year. Once your trees or plants are in the ground, do give them a drink.
PLANTING PROCEDURES: Correct planting technique begins with proper handling and
care. Be careful when unwrapping the packaged plant materials, since stems and roots are
fragile. Once the trees or plants are unpacked, soak the roots in a bucket of water for a few seconds up to a couple minutes. Since the roots breathe, don't let them sit too long.
Always protect the roots, stems, and foliage during transplanting. Do not let the roots freeze or dry out, and keep the roots moist and covered. It is also helpful to keep them protected from
direct sunlight and wind.
If there is a delay in planting more than a few days, one should "heel in" the plants using soil or mulch materials to cover the roots. This is done by burying the roots in a pile of sawdust or
loose soil. This works well to temporarily hold the trees until you are able to plant them. Have
your heeled-in area away from wind and direct sunlight, and keep the plants moist, but not soaked. Since the plants are dormant, they will sit there with no problem, they're asleep!
THE PLANTING HOLE: A good soil mix allows enough air to move freely in and out, while
also holding enough water. There is a balance between soil, water and air, that allows for fast
root growth. By adding almost any type of organic matter: grass clippings, manure, compost,
etc. will help improve a poor soil.
The most important consideration in planting trees and shrubs is the planting depth. Dig planting
holes 2 to 3 times wider than the root ball, and the same depth. Hold the tree in the center of the hole (with the roots spread out or loosened) using one hand, and use the other hand to scoop
soil in and around the roots. After the roots are mostly covered, the tree will stand up by itself. Add more soil, and gently pat the soil to pack it in. Water the tree well. The water will cause the soil to fill in any holes, and you may need to add a
little more soil to help fill it in. If the tree or plant is tall, you may want to put in a stake to hold it up. Place the stake away from the roots, or even outside the hole and use twine to loosely tie the plant to the stake.
Make a basin around each tree with extra soil materials to collect and hold water. This will be very helpful during the summer months. Also after planting, add a 3- to 4-inch layer of organic mulch around the base of the plant. This will conserve moisture, discourage weeds, and moderate the soil temperatures. Leaves, grass clippings, bark or wood chips works well.
LARGE PLANTING PROJECTS: For planting thousands of trees, such as for a Christmas
tree farm or reforestation project, it becomes unfeasible to spend as much time and energy
planting each tree. If planting a tree carefully, using the above procedure, taking ten minutes,
then planting five hundred trees per acre would take weeks! In reforesting project planting rates
of 50 to 100 per hour are very common. How? The principles are the same, but shortcuts are
taken.
The first thing to do, is decide how many trees you want per acre, what varieties, how far apart
you want them, then walk the ground and see what the planting area looks like. If possible,
tilling the ground with a tractor makes excellent planting "spots", and the tree-planting process
will go very fast. It is also important that the soil is moist. Since you would be planting hundreds of trees per acre, you can not water each one, so there has to be enough moisture in the ground when they get planted to keep the roots moist.
Planting one tree or ten thousand, it is important to keep the roots moist. Trees and most plants
need to have the roots protected from drying out, but not sitting in standing water either. While
planting large numbers, carry the trees a bundle or group at a time, keeping the roots protected
in a bucket with wet sawdust or other moist material, moist cloth bag, or other carrying devices.
Dipping a bundle or group of trees in water, then placing them in the carrying container, will
work well to keep the roots moist.
Dig a hole with a shovel or other tool. Instead of making a large hole and mixing organic
materials into the soil, just take the shovel and open a "slit" wide enough and deep enough to
put the tree in so the roots are straight. Then make another slit a few inches away from the first, and push the soil to close up the first slit. Do this gently as to not damage the tree or roots. Lastly, gently tamp the second slit and area around the
tree with your foot to lightly pack the soil around the tree. This closes up the soil around the tree, removing the air pockets. It takes practice, but the process can go very quickly as you develop a "planting rhythm".
While carrying bundles of trees and planting them, just keep the roots protected and moist,
carefully get the roots straight in the planting slit or hole, and then gently close up the hole and go onto the next tree. Since you're planting hundreds of trees per acre, the next tree is planted only a few steps away. It's hard work, but very
rewarding.
CARE: Once your trees or plants in the ground, the only thing you really need to do is keep them watered. Water after they get planted, and periodically check them. As the spring turns into summer, having a basin around the tree will make watering more effective. As the trees grow, you will want to add fertilizer to help them grow faster and healthier. Also, keeping a watch for insects or animal damage is important too.
These are basic and general planting instructions, and really applicable to most plants. Should you have further questions, we are here to assist you! Just send us a note, or visit us at the Nursery ...Click here
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Last Update: 01/08/2008
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