Tree planting season is here! Read below for an overview of lifting and planting tree nursery trees.
In the UK and much of Europe, Mid-Nov to the end of March is the ideal time to plant trees. This is partly because during the winter tree roots stand a much better chance of staying moist. There is more moisture in the ground due to greater amounts of rainfall. The trees are also dormant at this time of year and the water trees have access to is being conserved, rather than going straight into growing and producing seeds and flowers. This state of ‘hibernation’, along with the colder, wetter weather, means tree roots are much less likely to dry out, and trees less likely to undergo stress improving their survival rate.
At Moor Trees, we have managed to achieve a survival rate of 97% for all the trees we plant out. Read our steps to lifting and planting tree nursery trees below for our best advice on keeping your trees alive and healthy this tree planting season.
Step 1: Dig A Trench
Dig a heeling-in trench with one side at a 45-degree angle. This is so that when the trees are laid in the trench, the soil can be backfilled in over their roots, which helps to prevent the roots from drying out.
Step 2: Lifting
When lifting trees, make sure you have all the tools and equipment you need to hand. Have a trug filled with water on standby. This is so that when trees are lifted they can be placed in water, preventing their roots from drying out. Only trees that are above 20cm in height should be lifted. Use a garden fork to carefully prise trees from the ground being sure not to damage their roots. Once you have several trees in your trug, these can be loosely bundled together.
Next, label your trees, including species, where they have come from, and what year the seed was collected. This is for the Forest Reproductive Material (Great Britain) Regulations 2002.
Step 3: Temporary Planting
Lay bundles of trees into the trench. Backfill with soil making sure the roots are completely covered with soil. It is a good idea to compact the soil so that there is no air among the roots. Next, water in the trees.
Step 4: Leaving the Nursery
When trees are ready to leave the tree nursery, remove the bundles from the heeling-in trench and pop them into a plastic bag to ensure the roots stay moist. They are then ready to be transported to a planting site.
Step 5: Planting Out
It is important to keep trees in their plastic bags until they are ready to go into the ground. An exposed tree can die within two minutes! Once you have chosen a spot to plant a tree, dig a hole. You may find using a mattock helpful if digging on stony ground. When digging, clear away any roots, brambles, bracken, or anything else that is in the way. Place a tree into a corner of the hole. You should only plant a tree up to its root collar, the place where roots begin to spring from a tree’s main stem. Backfill the hole with soil then use your foot to push down around the base of the tree, ensuring the ground is firm. You can give the tree a firm tug to ensure it is securely in the ground.
Step 6: Aftercare
Once your trees are planted, you will need to protect them. This includes protecting them from livestock, deer, and smaller animals like rabbits and voles. You may wish to protect the entire tree-planting site or each tree individually. If protecting each tree individually, start by placing a weed-supressing mat around the base of a tree then pegging it to the ground with biodegradable pegs. This will help prevent weeds and other plants from competing with the tree. Next, place a tree shelter over the tree and stake it to the ground through the split in the weed-supressing mat. When placing the tree shelter, be sure to point the fluted end of the shelter upward to protect the bark of the tree when it grows out.
For further information about lifting and planting tree nursery trees, including how to plant a hedgerow, please get in touch with us – we would love to hear from you. If you are wondering what trees we grow and plant out at Moor Trees, please take a look at our full list of the trees we work with here.
