Seedlings
shipped from the Colorado State Forest Service Nursery are packaged
in protective wraps or containers. Included is a moisture holding
medium, usually sawdust, to keep the roots moist. Exposure to air
and sunlight for even a brief period can kill a tree’s root system
and, eventually, the tree. Immediately upon receiving seedlings, add
water to the sawdust for absorption and thoroughly water any container
plants. For best results, promptly plant them. (Note: seedlings
can be extremely stressed in a vehicle, particularly on a sunny day.)
If
seedlings cannot be planted immediately, keep them (still packaged)
in a cool, shady place until planting. A refrigerator (not freezer!)
is an ideal storage location. For potted stock, the north side of
a building provides cool shade. When planting must be delayed for
more than one week and cold storage is not available, bareroot trees
and shrubs can be "heeled-in."
Heel
in seedlings in a cool shady place. Dig a small trench, remove seedlings
from the shipping bundle, spread them out in the trench, cover the
roots with soil, and water. The soil around the roots should be kept
moist but not saturated. Transplant survival rapidly diminishes during
the spring as buds swell and break, therefore, heeled-in stock should
be planted long before this occurs.
When
you are ready to plant, remove bareroot seedlings from the shipping
package and immediately place the roots in a bucket of a hydrated
polymer or soil and water (mud) slurry. Fine seedling roots (root
hairs) are extremely susceptible to drying; it takes only a few seconds
of exposure to hot, dry conditions to damage roots. Carry plants in
this slurry and remove one seedling at a time, planting immediately.
Polymer root dips coat the seedlings’ roots and minimize drying. They
also protect roots placed in extremely dry soil until the plants can
be watered. Never take a number of trees from the bucket and carry
them from place to place with the roots exposed. Do not store seedlings in a bucket of water; the plants will not charge themselves
with additional moisture and may "drown" from lack of oxygen.
Container
grown seedlings should remain in the Styrofoam block or tarpaper container
until holes are dug and you are ready to begin planting. When you
are ready to begin planting, grasp the seedling at the base of the
stem (for Styrofoam blocks) and gently pull; the seedling should come
free easily. For seedlings in tar paper pots, carefully slit the paper
with a knife and gently remove. Do not break the root ball or leave
seedlings in sun or wind following removal from Styrofoam block or
tar paper. Once the seedling is free, plant immediately. (Note:
Styrofoam blocks containing piñon and bristlecone pine seedlings
should be cut apart with a knife to remove seedlings.)
Use
a shovel to dig planting holes that are at least as deep as the roots
are long and four inches wider than the root system is in its natural
form. This procedure loosens the surrounding soil, allowing for
better root establishment. Root ends should not be curled upward and
should spread naturally. Excessively long roots may be pruned. Pay
close attention to planting depth; plant trees to the depth they were
grown at the nursery. Be sure that the root ball of container stock
is not exposed; check after watering as the soil will settle. Avoid
pre-digging the holes too far in advance; winds may evaporate moisture
from the planting site. If holes are pre-dug, recharge them with water
24 hours prior to planting. Gently pack the soil from the bottom of
the hole upward so that no air pockets exist. A good practice is to
fill the hole half full of soil, pack it, finish filling with soil,
pack again and water. Mechanical tree planters may be available from
your local Colorado State Forest Service or Soil Conservation District
office; mechanical planters are recommended for planting 200 or more
trees. The mechanical tree planters require a tractor with a 3-point
hitch. In addition, chainsaw augers can be used to make planting easier
and help speed up the process. However, when using an auger, rough
up the sides of the hole with a shovel. Seedling order forms are available
each fall, and seedlings are distributed from March through May, depending
on the area. In nearly every county in the state, CSFS,
Extension Service, or Soil Conservation District offices compile seedling
orders, offer technical assistance, and distribute nursery seedlings.
For seedling order forms contact a local CSFS district office or the
CSFS Nursery at (970) 491-8429.
Machine
Planting
There
are essentially two ways to plant trees – by hand or by machine. Both
provide excellent results and the method of choice usually depends
on the number of seedlings being planted.
If
many trees are being planted, contact your local conservation office
to find out if help is available. Some offices either provide planting
services or will rent you a tree planter if you wish to do your own
planting.
After
planting by machine, walk the entire windbreak strip. Lightly tug
on the seedling while tamping the soil at the base of each tree to
be sure they are vertical and firmly in the ground. Good root-soil
contact is essential to a successful planting. If the soil is dry,
the seedlings will benefit from a small amount of water (approximately
1 – 2 gallons) applied at planting.
