Tree Planting Guide

**Just a Reminder - Please plant all trees and shrubs a proper distance from property lines, power lines, and drainage ditches to ensure your trees stay beautifully undisturbed for many years to come.**

What does 2-0, 2-2, or 2-4 mean???
The first number indicates number of years in nursery, second is number of years transplanted outside.

How to Plant a Bare-Root Transplant Tree - It is best to plant bare-root trees immediately, in order to keep the fragile roots from drying out. If you can't plant because of weather or soil conditions, store the trees in a cool place and keep the roots moist.
#1: Unpack tree and DO NOT allow roots to dry out. Do not plant with packing materials attached to roots, and NO NOT allow roots to dry out.
#2: Dig a hole, wider than seems necessary, so the roots can spread without crowding. Remove any grass within a three-foot circular area. To aid root growth, turn soil in an area up to 3 feet in diameter.
#3: Plant the tree at the same depth it stood in the nursery, without crowding the roots. Partially fill the hole, firming the soil around the lower roots. Do not add soil amendments.
#4: Shovel in the remaining soil. It should be firmly, but not tightly, packed with your heel. Construct a water-holding basin around the tree. Give the tree plenty of water.
#5: After the water has soaked in, place a 2-inch deep protective mulch area 3 feet in diameter around the base of the tree (but not touching the trunk).
#6: Water the tree generously every week or 10 days during the first year.

Avoid these mistakes when planting seedlings:

Proper care of planting stock often contributes to the survival and growth of the trees.

• Never Store in direct sunlight.

• Keep trees cool and out of the wind.

• Keep one side of each container exposed to the air.

• Spray containers with water if temperatures rise above 40 degrees.

• If unable to plant all seedlings, heel your trees in. Find a place in the shade, protected from the wind, dig a trench and place roots in the trench, covering them with soil.

During Planting:

• Avoid planting when the ground is hard, frozen, dry or when excessively wet and sticky.

• Allow frozen seedlings to thaw naturally in bundles before attempting to separate.

• Bring only the number of trees necessary for the day of planting to the site.

• Moisten the planting stock containers before they are removed from storage.

• Shield containers from the sun/wind. Seedlings should be carried in protective containers or bags to protect roots from exposure to sun and air.

• Remove only one seedling at a time from protective container and plant immediately.

• Do not place seedlings in a bucket of water. This will remove soil particles from the seedlings which will speed up the drying out o the roots.

• Take caution when planting to assure that roots are placed properly!

• ***Transplants may have a surplus of root length. Root length exceeding the height of the tree can be trimmed. Damage from trimming is less than if roots are twisted or become "J-rooted".***

Spacing and Planting Guidelines: Following rates and spacing will allow trees enough growing room.

Solid Plantings

Windbreaks & Screens