Planting Instructions

PLANTING HOLE PREPARATION: 

One of the most prevalent errors in planting is that the rootballs are either planted too deep or too high, both of which can cause serious problems.  In oder to properly plant balled and burlapped (B&B) material, begin by locating the point at which the trunk flare begins (see Diagram A).

Measure from this point to the bottom of the ball.  Dig the hole one to two inches less than this measurment so that the trunk flare junction will be slightly higher than the existing grade level when the planting is complete.  When planting on a slope, we recommend that the hole depth be measured from the high side of the slope (see Diagram B).

In some cases, the trunk flare junction may be buried in the top of the rootball and it may be necessary to loosen the burlap at the top of the ball to properly locate the junction.  Try to maintain the 'integrity' of the rootball until it is secure in the hole.  In the event that some of the soil should fall away from the roots, simply proceed with the planting, taking care to ensure that the roots do not dry out from sun or wind.  Container-grown plants are often shrubs or ground covers so the trunk flare either will not exist or be difficult to find.  The depth of the hole is determined by measuring the actual height of the rootball within the container, again digging the hole one to two inches less than this measurement to ensure that the top of the rootball will be slightly above the existing grade level.  The diameter of the planting hole should be at least three times the width of the rootball for either B&B or container plants as shown in the diagrams.

SETTING THE PLANT:

Carefully set the plant in the hole checking to make sure that the trunk flare is slightly above the existing grade, adjusting the hole depth if necessary.  For B&B material, once the plant is properly placed, cut away and remove all visible twine and burlap.  If the rootball appears to be in danger of completely collapsing, remove the burlap from only the top third of the ball.  Although still subject to debate, we strongly recommend that wire baskets on B&B material be completely removed.  We have developed a method for doing this without destroying the rootball, even with freshly dug material.  Please consult your salesperson for specific instructions with regard to wire baskets.  For container material, tip the pot on its side and gently tap the container until the root system slides out.  For severely potbound plants, it may be necessary to cut the container before the plant can be removed.  In order to encourage root growth into the backfill area, lossen the root ends within the outer half inch of the container media.  If roots are severaly matted, it may be necessary to use a knoife or small hand rake to open them up.

BACKFILLING THE PLANTING HOLE:

Because existing soil conditions on Cape Cod are generally very poor, we recommend backfilling the planting hole with a well balanced, organically enriched, topsoil mix.  While exact mixtures can vary somewhat depending upon the ingredients on hand and quality of topsoil, a good example would be our Complete Mix which is 1/3 topsoil, 1/3 cow manure, and 1/3 peat.  Any compost or manure to be used should be well rotted and under no circumstances should fresh mulch be mixed in with the soil.  When planting in very heavy clay soils, we recommend that peat moss not be used and instead mixing in 1/3 of the existing clay with the topsoil mix in order to avoid any 'bathtub' effect.  While backfililng the hole, tamp the soil lightly to avoid leaving air pockets.  However, do not pack the soil so firmly as to drive out all the fine air spaces needed for a well-aerated soil.  An alternative to avoid tamping the soil too firmly is to water the soil halfway through the backfill process and allow it to drain.  when the water has drained away, resume backfilling and water again thoroughly.  To complete the backfilling, smooth the surface soil, making certain that the trunk flare is completely exposed and that the top of the rootball has not been covered with additional soil.  In some cases, especially when planting on a slope, it is advisable to build a saucer near the outer edge of the hole to retain water and allow it to soak down to the roots.