Tree Planting

Planting Balled and Burlapped Trees

1. If not readily apparent, locate root flare by removing twine, burlap, and excess soil.

2. Dig tree hole at least two times wider than the tree ball, with sides sloped to an unexcavated or firm base. Dig hole to a depth so the located root flare, at the first order lateral root, will be at finished grade.

3. Lifting only from the bottom of the root ball, position tree on firm pad so that it is straight and top of root flare is level with the surrounding soil.

4. Remove all twine from the root ball. If present, remove and discard at least the top one half of the wire basket. Burlap shall be removed from the top to a point halfway down the root ball and discarded.

5. With clean, sharp pruning tools, prune off any secondary/adventitious, girdling, and potential girdling roots.

6. Backfill planting hole with existing unamended soil, and thoroughly water.

7. Mulch the entire planting surface with composted bark applied no less than two inches (2”) deep and no more than three inches (3”) deep, leaving three inches (3”) adjacent to the tree trunk free of mulch.

Planting Containerized or Grow Bag Trees

1. If not readily apparent, locate root flare by removing excess soil.

2. Dig tree hole at least two times wider than the tree ball with sloping sides. Dig hole to a depth so the located root flare, at the first order lateral root, will be at finished grade.

3. Create a firm soil mound at the bottom of the planting hole.

4. Remove tree from container or grow bag and completely tease apart root system, repositioning any girdling or potentially girdling roots.

5. Spread roots over soil mound so that root flare is at finished grade and the tree is straight.

6. With clean, sharp pruning tools, prune off any secondary/adventitious, girdling, and potential girdling roots.

7. Backfill planting hole with existing unamended soil and thoroughly water.

8. Mulch the entire planting surface with composted bark applied no less than two inches (2”) deep and no more than three inches (3”) deep, leaving three inches (3”) adjacent the tree trunk free of mulch.

Planting Bare Root Trees

1. Dig tree hole at least two times wider than the tree ball with sloping sides. Dig hole to a depth so the located root flare, at the first order lateral root, will be at finished grade.

2. Create a firm soil mound at the bottom of the planting hole.

3. Spread roots over soil mound so that root flare is at finished grade and the tree is straight.

4. With clean, sharp pruning tools, prune off any secondary/adventitious, girdling, and potential girdling roots.

5. Backfill planting hole with existing unamended soil and thoroughly water.

6. Mulch the entire planting surface with composted bark applied no less than two inches (2”) deep and no more than three inches (3”) deep, leaving three inches (3”) adjacent to the tree trunk free of mulch.