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Planting Balled Saplings
How to plant balled and burlap saplings.
 
Important: Saplings should not be soaked prior to planting. In most cases you do not need to remove the burlap (remove strings/strapping) but you do need to clip roots circling the outside of the root ball and/or on bottom. Never fertilize in planting hole! 
 About Tree Planting
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Planting a Balled and Burlap Sapling

How to plant balled and burlaped saplings.

Illustration Courtesy of Vestavia Hills Tree Commission

  1. Dig a hole 2 to 5 times wider than the root ball.  In the bottom and center of the hole, leave a planting base of undisturbed soil.

  2. Put the root ball on undisturbed soil flush to 2" over the top of the hole.

  3. Hold tree while backfilling with dirt and soil minus large clods.

  4. Remove grass and weeds within 6 inches of tree bole. 

  5. With excess soil, build small berm around hole to saucer water toward roots.

  6. Water and mulch.

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