Planting Instructions for B&B Plant Material

Planting Instructions
B&B Trees, Evergreens, and Shrubs
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1. Dig a hole that is approximately 6-10" larger than the the ball all the way around. It should be wide enough to remove any air pockets that may form around the tree when backfilling. On the top of the ball you are planting you will see that it has been tied with rope to secure the ball and the trunk of the plant. Remove the rope and pull the burlap back. Now take a look at the trunk or base of the plant near the soil level for the trunk flare (the area of the trunk where it begins to widen below the graft). This is where the soil should come up to when planting. This area may be slightly below the soil line so you may need to carefully remove some soil from the top of the ball in order to get the tree planted at the correct depth in your yard. Dig the depth of your hole accordingly being careful not to go too deep. If the soil is loosened in the bottom of the hole you risk the tree settling. To get an accurate depth of the hole we recommend placing a rake handle across the hole, using your spade or a tape measure to measure the depth of your hole, and comparing it to the height of the ball.

2. Place the plant in the hole and make sure you have it sitting straight in every direction and it is at the correct depth. If the ball is in a wire basket, bend back the wire to prevent it from sticking out of the ground or cut off the top ring. Sometimes it is possible to remove the basket entirely but, do so only after you get the ball into the hole and you must be absolutely sure the ball will not fall apart. If the ball falls apart serious root damage can occur. Only the burlap from the top of the ball should be removed.

3. Once you have the plant straight and the basket is taken care of fill the hole approximately 1/3 full with soil. Then water the soil around the ball and run your spade in several times to help remove any air pockets.

4. Now you can fill the rest of the hole with soil. It is recommended to use the same soil removed from the hole for backfill. In clay soil, using large quantities of black dirt or peat moss can create a bowl effect. The roots will not be able to penetrate the clay soil. Often water will pool in the hole and ultimately kill the plant. Use a spade or shovel to breakup the soil being used as backfill. This will remove air pockets. Make sure the plant is straight. Water again and run your spade in around the ball to remove any remaining air pockets

5. It is not necessary to stake the plant unless it is very loose in the soil. By not staking, the roots will be strengthened. If the plant tips in the hole a few days after planting, water the plant again and push a spade into the ground by the ball and gently pull on the trunk and the spade to set the plant straight again.

6. Place a layer of mulch around the plant, making sure that the mulch only comes up 1" or less on the base of the plant and thickens to at least 3" as it goes away from the plant. Cedar mulch is recommended due to its ability to repel insects and not blow away. Mulch is helpful for keeping moisture around the roots and eliminating competition from the lawn grass. It is recommended that you keep your trees mulched out to the dripline of the tree to reduce grass competition and to help your trees grow as fast as possible.