Roughen the sides of the planting hole.

Planting a Balled in Burlap (B&B) Tree on Flat Ground 1) Digging the Planting Hole

2) Planting the Tree

3) Mulching and Watering

Watering Bag -placed around the tree at the time of planting. One watering bag holds 25 gallons of water, released slowly over time.

Hose

HELPFUL TOOLS for DIGGING

Rake

HELPFUL TOOLS

HELPFUL TOOLS

Mulch layer kept away from trunk

hole width = 2-3 x the diameter of the root ball

root ball diameter

hole depth = root ball height

soil to stabilize root ball and keep tree upright.

Cut and remove top 2/3 of the wire basket.

Cut and remove top 2/3 of the burlap from the root ball.

grade

Create a mulch ring around the tree and a 3-6” high soil-and-mulch berm at the edge of the hole. Keep mulch away from the trunk.

Water the tree thoroughly at planting and 15-25 gallons per week after the planting.

Scissors

Watering Bucket

Mulch

TrunkFlare

Tree Guard

Tree Guard -helps protectthe tree’s trunk

undisturbedsoil

2

1

2

3

4

2

3

1

4

1

2

3

4

1

2Mulch and soilberm

1

Hand Pruners

Please See Opposite Side forStaking Tools and Directions

Completely back�ll the hole with original soil.

Shovel

Pick-Axe

Tarp

Gloves

Call Gopher State One-Call at 1-800-252-1166 before digging. Dig planting hole no deeper than the root ball height. Excavate hole 2-3 times the width of the root ball diameter.

Adapted with permission from Casey Tree. Washington, DC

Before placing the tree in the planting hole, prune dead or broken branches and remove any tree wrap, tape, string, and tags from tree trunk and branches.Gently lower the tree into the hole so that the trunk �are is at or slightly above the orginal grade.

Bolt Cutters (to cut the balled in burlap basket)

Planting and Staking a Containerized Tree on a HillChoosing Where to Plant

2) Mulching and Staking the Tree or sloped ground

1) Planting the Containerized Tree

2 or 36’ HardwoodStakes

Tree Tie

Stake Driver

HELPFUL TOOLS

Dig tree planting hole to depth of root

original grade. Excavate hole 2-3 times the width of the root ball diameter.

Roughen the edges of the hole.

Carefully remove the tree’s root ball from the container, and untangle and prune any circling roots.

Gently lower the tree into center of

slightly above the original grade. Back

stabilize root ball and keep tree upright.

hole depth = root ball height

1

1

hole width = 2- 3 x the diameter of the root ball

root ball diameter

undisturbedsoil

Create a mulch ring around the tree and a 3-6” high soil-and-mulch berm at the edge of the planting hole, particularly on the downhill side. Keep mulch away from the trunk.

Decide if stakes are necessary to help the tree remain upright. If so, drive stakes two feet deep into the soil at the edge of the hole.

Views from Above

Tree planting hole

TreeStake 1 Stake 2

Tree tie

22

4

5

Add soil to the downhill side

Secure tree trunk with tree tie with at least a 6” wide loop snuggly around the tree trunk - tied with a non-slipping knot.

Remove stakes after one year.

1 Mulch layer kept away from trunk

Containerized Tree

HELPFUL TOOLS

Mulch

3

Hand Pruners

2

1

2

3

5

Mulch and soilberm

1

2

3

4

Non-slipping knot

4

Stake 2Stake 1

Mulch and soil berm

Gloves

HELPFUL TOOLS

Rake

Shovel

Pick-AxeTarp

Please See Opposite Side forWatering Tools and Directions

Scissors

TrunkFlare

Note: stake across the hill

Center of treeplanting hole

Stake and Tree tie.

Adapted with permission from Casey Tree. Washington, DC

Completely back�ll hole with original soil. Add soil to the downhill side to help level the soil area around the tree.

Insert the bar into the soil 2 inches away from the planting hole. Pull the handle toward you, �rming the soil at the bottom of the planting hole. This is important to prevent air pockets at the bottom of the hole.

�rst mainroot

Planting with a Shovel

Planting with a Planting Bar

Mulching and Watering

Hose

TOOLS

TOOLS

TOOLS

Watering Bucket

Mulch

1

2

3

4

4

3

4

2

1

3

5

6

5

1 3

2

Planting a Tree Seedling with Shovel or Planting Bar

Shovel

Planting Bars

Gloves

Gloves

Contact Gopher State One-Call at 800-252-1166 before digging.

Brush aside loose organic material such as leaves and grass to expose soil.

Adapted with permission from Casey Tree. Washington, DC

Place seedling in the hole. Make sure the �rst main root is slighlty below the soil surface. Distribute the roots evenly, making sure the taproot is straight down. Avoid making a “J” root.

Pack the soil �mly around the roots. Make sure there are no air pockets.

NOTE: Keep seedlings in a cool, shaded, and protected place and keep roots damp until planting.

Water seedling well after planting and then a good soaking once a week.

Drive blade into soil; move it back and forth to form a V-shaped hole. Make sure hole is deep enough for the roots to be fully extended. Avoid making a “J” root. (See “J” root image above.)

Follow steps one and two from above.

Insert seedling into hole. Set seedling vertically with �rst main root slighly below soil surface.

Push handle toward seedling to �rm soil at the top of planting hole.

Remove the bar and �rmly pack the soil around seedling with your heel.

hole width = 2x root size.

gradeholedepth =slightly deeperthan root height

Mulch around the seedling, keeping mulch 2-3” away from trunk.

Dig a hole twice as wide as the size of the roots and slightly deeper.

J root

Do not “J” root your seedlings.

Note: Check periodically to make sure that brush, grass and other vegetation is kept under control by mowing, mulching, spraying or a combination of these treatments.

Note: Watering, mulching, and protecting trees may not be feasible for a large scale planting project.

Protect your seedling from lawn mowers and deer browsing by adding a cage or netting.