Bare root planting
 

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This page is for planting Bare root Plants.

Step 1-Digging your hole
We all know how to dig hole in the ground with a shovel, however this step is to cover hole size and depth as well as any prep work.  If you are planting a plant in a grass area or planting in a flower bed with rock or bark then before you dig lay a tarp close to the planting area to hold the dirt.  It will keep the rock, grass and bark clean.  Never haul the dirt away until you are finished with the planting project, so you don't carry it out of the yard, only for you to need to bring more dirt back.  For a bare root tree use the Bare Root Hole Size Chart to give you an idea of how big to dig your hole based on the trees size and species.

Step 2-Prepping the Soil
Most of the soil in the Tri-City area is sand loam with rock mixed in.  There is not a lot of humus (organic matter) for the tree to naturally grow and thrive.  So to get the plant off to a healthy start use a little compost (Steer Manure + Bark), it comes in bags that are affordable.  However you only want to use 1 part compost to 3 parts soil.  Pour half the portion in the bottom of the hole and work into the soil so that the compost is mixed well into the dirt.  The other half of the compost portion should be mixed with the fill dirt that will be used to burry the trees root system.  Always mix well when using compost.

Step 3- Removing the Tree from the Plastic Diaper
If you need to take break now is the ideal time because once you open the plastic diaper that is keeping your tree's root moist, you are committed to finishing the job.  Once you are ready, the hole is dug and compost is mixed in, you can open the diaper.   Open the diaper by pulling at the seems which will loosen the staples.  After the diaper is open take the straw from the roots and throw it in the garbage.  If you mix the straw in with the fill dirt, it will decompose and remove nitrogen from the soil which slows the growth performance on your tree.  So throw the straw and plastic away, after you plant your tree. 

Step 4 Place tree in hole and adjust width of hole
Once the tree is free of the plastic diaper and straw, place the plant in the hole, center it, and turn the plant in the direction that you like.  IF the roots touch or bend to along the sides of your hole you will need to adjust the width of your hole by digging it wider.  A simple trick if the ground doesn't have rocks larger the 10 inches in length is simply take you shovel and mine the side of the hole making it wider without cutting more grass at the surface (see figure below).  There should be a few inches on clearance between the walls of the hole and the trees' roots.

Step 5-Checking you tree's depth and burring the Tree
Now that you have the width set right it is time to check  the depth of the tree.  The tree's top roots should be 1 inch or 2 fingers below your yard's grade. An easy way to check your depth of a bare root tree, while the tree is in the hole, is to lay a rake across the hole so that way you have a reference point of your grade next to the trees' trunk. Add or take away dirt to set tree at proper depth.  Once you have the trees' top roots set at 2 fingers below grade, now you can put your fill dirt back in the hole and bury the trees roots. 

Step 6-Watering the plant in-THE MOST VITAL PART
This is the most critical part of successful planting and that is WATERING THE PLANT IN.  We are not talking about lightly spraying the plant but literally mudding the plant in.  While the hose is on work the hose into the filled hole and allow the water to come to the surface and fill the basin.  This practice removes the need to tamp, for the water settles the dirt and gets rid of air pockets in the soil as well as giving the plant a thorough drink of water.  Since Bare-root planting should only take place during the dormant season (December to March) usually you only need to water again in the Middle March after completing this step and begin watering regularly after the tree leafs or flowers out (depending of the species) for more on watering in the spring go to the Care Guide page.

Step 7-Fertilizer Tablets and Collapsing the Basin
After the water has drained away, now is the time to place the fertilizer tablets we gave you for the tree.  Poke these pellets down 3 inches deep and 3 inches away from the root ball also space the tablets around the hole at an equal distance apart.  Next you are now ready to collapse the basin and fix any points where the dirt did settle.  Then haul all remaining dirt away or work smooth.

Step 8-Staking the Tree
Staking a bare root tree is a good idea because the tree does not a have established root system to anchor itself in the wind.  This is how we recommend to stake a tree.  Use three 32 inch long stakes, three 8 to 12 inch long pieces of drip tube, funny pipe or old garden hose and three 12 foot lengths of arbor twine.  Set the three stakes one foot away from the edge of the hole and equal distance around the hole.  Next run some of the twine through drip tube/funny pipe and place in the crotch of a branch and trunk.  Then tie a knot so that the edges of the drip tube stay wrapped around the trunk and run the other end of the twine down to the stake next wrap the twine around the stake and tie a knot so the twine is taunt, but still allows for the top of the tree to move in the wind.  Repeat this step 2 more times and your done.  

Now you have started your new tree out right and remember to repeat these steps for every bare root trees you plant.