Planting Guide
for Seedlings and Shrubs
Keep Seedling Moist and Protected!
Keep roots wrapped and moist in a cool, moist, shaded place.
Seedlings can be stored for up to 48 hours before planting.
Heel in plants if unable to plant within 48 hours by digging a
Contact your local conservation district for Tree Sale trench, unbundling seedlings, spacing them within the trench,
information or for assistance with planting, and tree health. and covering with soil and water.
Otsego Conservation District
800 Livingston Blvd Suite 4A
Gaylord, MI 49735
(989)732-4021
Crawford-Roscommon Conservation District
Physical: 500 Lake St.
Mailing: P.O. Box 156
Roscommon, MI 48653
(989)275-3163 Selecting the Proper Plants, Sites, and Tools
Tools: Planting bars or “dibbles” are the most efficient way
District Forester to plant seedlings, although shovels can also be used. Large
Tabitha O’Dell scale plantings can be done through the use of a planting
(989)732-4021 machine or hiring a planting crew. Contact your conserva-
[email protected] tion district for information on where to rent equipment or
hire planters.
Plants: Choose the correct plant to fit your site characteristics.
Consider soil texture and drainage, sun availability, competing
vegetation, and also your goals for the planting.
Site: Be aware of overhead and underground wires and septic
tanks when planting. Plant at least 20ft from utility lines and10ft
from any structure.
Preparing your Planting Site Step 7: Provide tree protection with trunk wraps or tree shelters which
Competition from other vegetation may stress seedlings, will help keep the tree safe from extreme weather and animal damage.
cause lack of vigor and increase susceptibility to pests and diseases. Mulch can be applied no more than 2 inches thick around the seedling,
but not touching the stem. Mulch will help insulate roots, retain mois-
Small sites: Use a shovel to “scalp” or removed the top 2 inches of ture, and reduce competition from other vegetation. Tree mats are an-
surface and loosen underlying ground. other alternative to mulch.
Large sites: Clear large areas using techniques such as tilling, fur- Step 8: Monitoring and maintenance is vital to a plants success. Ensur-
rowing, herbicides, or using professional crews. Avoid chemicals ing a favorable growing environment requires care the first 1 to 3 years
with extended release to avoid hard to new plants. after planting. Keep the area free of weeds/grasses and water regularly.
Weekly or biweekly watering may be needed in times of drought. Be
DO NOT FERTILIZE the entire first year of planting. It is critical aware of plant progress throughout the season and be proactive of po-
that bareroot seedlings establish strong root systems in the first year. tential problems.
Nitrogen in fertilizer will inhibit this process by encouraging above-
ground growth instead of below.
Planting Steps
Step 1: Plant on a calm, cloudy day. Plant conifers early in the morn-
ing. Put off planting until risk of freezing has passed.
Step 2: Keep seedling wrapped and moist until just before placing in
ground.
Step 3: Dig a hole about 2 times the width of the seedling and scarcely
deeper than the root system.
Step 4: Hold seedling vertically, allowing roots to hang in hole. If roots
are excessively long, bunched or bent, dig hole slightly deeper or use
scissors to prune roots back up to 8 inches.
Step 5: Check root placement to ensure roots are not bent or crushed.
Pack soil around seedling to remove large air pockets, but not extreme-
ly compressed.
Step 6: Water until soil is well saturated and muddy. If settling occurs,
add more soil and water. Tug gently upwards to ensure seedling is se-
cure.
