Planting Trees, Perennials, and Shrubs – Advanced

Before any planting can occur, utilities should be flagged for safety.  Be sure to call DIG-SAFE (in Kansas) or DIG-RITE (in Missouri) or Indiana811 (in Indiana) in advance and have all utilities marked prior to beginning planting.  In most states, you can dial 811 to contact your utility locator service.

Each tree and tree planting situation can be slightly different and may require specific techniques. In general, these are instructions that will ensure a healthy transplanted tree. It is also important to choose the right location for the requirements of the specific tree. Talk to your KAT or Brehob Account Representative if you are unsure about light and moisture requirements of a specific tree.

Using the PlantRight method of planting will not only help you provide a better product, but it can also speed up the planting process by making it more efficient. Planting with a raised root ball will guarantee the roots won’t be standing in water during rain or irrigation. Immediately removing any soil above the roots could expose tender tissue too quickly and is not necessary with this method. Given time after planting above grade, the extra soil will migrate away to the correct level, and the exposed tissue has time to adapt. Planting a little too high is something Mother Nature easily deals with but planting too deep can kill the plant slowly over a period of time, or it just struggles along without doing well. Those roots may not be at the surface to begin with but won’t be well below grade, just as you’ll find in nature.

1. Consider placing the soil on a tarp for easy compost mixing and cleanup later.
2. Dig a hole 4-6” wider than the rootball on each side. It only needs to be wide enough to easily work soil around the ball at the bottom of the hole.
3. Dig the hole no deeper than is needed according to the type of rootball being planted. It will prevent the tree from sinking and will save some work.  (See upcoming pages for proper depth)
4. Drain the hole of any water that may have accumulated in it.
5. Remove any shrink-wrap that may be present.
6. Place or roll the tree into the hole.
7. Straighten and orient the tree as needed, viewing from several angles to ensure it is straight.
8. Use a shovel to slide soil from around the top of the hole into the bottom around the base of the tree until about 1/3 of the ball is covered. Firmly pack that soil at the bottom. Don’t stomp the soil, we want pore spaces for oxygen and water movement so firmly pack it. This will support the tree while planting, provide same-soil contact consistency and prevent water from pooling in the hole. Water standing in the hole can cause anaerobic activity (no oxygen and stinking soil). Sliding the soil from the top edges of the hole also makes it easy to remove the top of the basket and burlap as needed. Be sure to leave several inches of unfilled hole available for the soil/compost mix as microbe activity is nearly all in the top 8-9” of soil.
9. Now is the easy time to remove top portion of the basket and burlap. There is no more need for root ball support as you will not need to move it again. Bolt cutters and a box knife make great tools. Remove all the twine, too, including around the trunk. There is lots of room for easy access since the top of the hole was expanded and the root ball is not buried below grade.
10. Evenly mix the soil on the tarp with 1⁄2 of the PlantRight compost.
11. Backfill the remaining hole with the soil/compost mix.  Do not compact this soil. Continue to the top of the root ball, gradually sloping the compost mix away from the root ball. Use all the mix while placing none of it on top of the root ball. Do not pile any of the soil on top of the root ball. This should leave no soil to dispose of while not limiting oxygen and water exchange. It also prevents a ‘sudden-change’ barrier so roots can easily grow out, yet it provides carbon and a good physical mix for speedy establishment. Elevated and friable soil drains well allowing good oxygen and water exchange.  It is now more difficult to overwater, as often happens. It’s a great environment to grow new roots as it drains the extra water away plus provides plenty of nutrients.
12. Spread the remaining half of the compost over all the planting area out to the end of the slope. 90% of microbial activity happens in the top inch or two, so this is a very active area. Don’t compact any of the composted portion. Nearly all (about 90%) of new roots will appear in the composted soil. The planting area will be larger now and that will help establish the tree, probably 5-6’ in diameter instead of 3’. Later this area can become turf or have groundcover added after the tree is established.
13. The root collar is now above grade but maybe still down in the actual root ball. Roots won’t live in standing water and can now grow out into good soil instead of trying to form girdling roots as those grow up and away from standing water and an anaerobic situation. Roots need an air exchange or those will die and rot.
14. Except for broken branches, no pruning should occur at planting. The tree needs lots of leaves to become established. Delay removing limbs until next year.
15. Add the Bio-Life 800+ via drench.

B&B planting instructions : 

Burlap may not inhibit root growth, but dry burlap repels water. Dry burlap on top of the root ball can make it very slow and difficult to water a tree. Generally removing it to below the soil surface will prevent those problems later.

• Dig hole 2/3 of the depth of the rootball.
• Remove any shrink-wrap.
• Using rootball to roll into hole, place tree so that 1/3 of the rootball remains above grade.
• Straighten or orient the tree as needed.
• Remove any twine that might be tied to the metal basket or around the trunk of the tree.
• While the basket and burlap do not necessarily impede root growth, remove the top portion of metal basket so the unsightly metal will never be exposed and the burlap can be easily removed.
• Continue planting per general instructions. 

PlantRight Package instructions: 

• Dig hole 3⁄4 of the depth of the rootball.
• Tip PlantRight Package on its side. Beginning approximately 2” above the bottom seam, slice across the bottom of the PlantRight Package and approximately 2” up the other side.
• Place tree in hole so that 1⁄4 of the rootball remains above grade.
• Straighten or orient the tree as needed.
• Remove tree from the green PlantRight Package by slicing one side of the package and sliding the tree package from under the plant while in the hole.
• PlantRight Packages are specifically designed to allow ideal growing conditions while developing a healthy root system.
• These green woven packages are easily managed with their reinforced nylon handles.
• Because the design of the package allows for air pruning, you should not see circling roots with these trees.
• Continue planting per general instructions. 

Container shrub and perennial instructions: 

• Dig hole 3/4 of the depth of the rootball.
• Remove the plant from the plastic container by turning the container on its side and sliding it out vs. pulling out by the plant itself.  The roots are possibly circling around the inside of the container, so carefully knife through the roots or spread out in a flare or shave off an entire inch of the root mass.
• Place plant in hole so that ¼ of the rootball remains above ground.
• Continue planting per general instructions.
• Mulch should not cover any foliage at the base of the plant.

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