Planned Forest Solutions - Managing Trees in Cities
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How to Plant a Balled and Burlapped Tree

1. Prepare the Area for Planting

Call your local utility locator service at least 2 full working days before you plan to plant your tree. Never dig without calling, as you may run into buried utilities. This could lead to sever injury or death, not to mention utility interruption. Water the area around the planting hole the day before digging if the soil is especially dry or clayey. This will make digging the hole much easier. 

2. Prepare the Tree for Planting
Pull back the soil around the base of the stem to locate the root collar. If the collar is more than a few inches beneath the soil or is unhealthy, reject the tree. Use a metal stake or similar object to locate the top of the roots.Prune off any dead or broken branches, but leave all live branches on the tree. 

3. Dig the Hole

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Dig a saucer-shaped hole. Measure the depth of the root ball to make sure the root collar will be at or a little above ground level when your tree is planted. Dig the hole 2 or 3 times as wide and as deep as the root ball. The hole should have sloping sides, Do not disturb or place any material in the bottom of the hole. 

4. Place the Tree in the Hole

Place the tree in the center of the hole. When moving the tree, handle it by the root ball. Never move or lift the tree by the trunk or branches as this can cause the root ball to separate from the trunk or cause trunk/limb damage. Keep the wire and twine on the tree until after it is placed in the hole. Check the planting depth. If the root collar is below ground level, remove some soil under the root ball to correct the depth.

5. Remove the Basket, Burlap and Twine

Once the tree is in position, use wire cutters to cut vertically up the side the wire basket and peel it away. Remove all the rope and twine from the ball and all the nails that hold the burlap together. Pull the burlap back and cut away any loose material. Don't worry about regular burlap under the root ball f it cannot be easily removed. It should not cause harm to the roots as they grow. But vinyl or treated burlap should be removed completely.

6. Straighten the Tree

View the tree from all four sides to make sure it is straight. Once it is vertical, firmly (but not too firmly!) pack the original soil around the root ball to make sure there aren't any air pockets. Keep backfilling until the soil is just below the root collar.

​7. Water the Tree

Create a water-holding basin around the tree to help water stay within the root ball. Do this by placing 2 inches of excess soil from digging in a ring around the ball. Water the tree generously so that water reaches the entire root ball. Watering will help the soil settle within the planting hole. The soil and mulch around your trees should be kept moist but not soggy. During dry weather, generously water at least weekly during the first year. 

8. Mulch!

Place a 3-4 inch layer of mulch around the tree. Mulch will help the root ball retain water, help moderate temperatures and keep weed and other plants from growing. Do not place mulch directly against the trunk of the tree, as doing so can create an environment friendly for trunk-rotting organisms and insects. 

9. Finishing Touches

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Remove any tags and labels from the tree as these will affect the tree as it grows. You may need to prune any broken or dead branches. 

Notes: You shouldn't have to stake a balled and burlapped tree for stability. Do not fertilize the tree in its first few years after planting unless there is a documented nutrient deficiency in the soil.
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Planned Forest Solutions LLC
​(773) 359-3841
andrew@plannedforest.com
  • Home
  • What We Do
    • Tree Preservation
    • Tree Inventory
    • Tree Risk Assessment
    • Urban Forest Management Planning
    • Tree Appraisal
    • Tree Expert Witness
    • Property Inspection
    • Tree Planting Plans
    • Plant Diagnosis
    • Municipal Arborist Consulting
    • Urban Tree Workshops
  • About
    • Project Samples >
      • Tree Preservation Plan Project
      • Tree Appraisal Project
      • Tree Risk Assessment Sample
  • Contact
  • Resources
    • Tree Benefits
    • Tree Planting
    • Tree Inventory
    • Tree Pruning
    • Trees and Construction
    • Tree Law
    • Tree Books
    • Tree Health
    • Urban Tree Organizations