How to plant a seedling
Need some help planting your new trees?
Here are some quick tips and basic instructions to help get your seedling in the ground! If you still need help, send a note to our forestry team and they’d be happy to help!
Before you start
- Plant your seedlings as soon as you can!
- Keep bareroot seedlings cool and moist (especially the roots)
- Handle them carefully to ensure you don’t break the branches and roots
- Plant about 1 metre from other trees and plants
- Look up — pick a location where other trees aren’t casting shade
- Visit ‘Plant Trees‘ for more information on site requirements, shade tolerance and average mature size
Planting bareroot seedlings
- Dig a wedge-shaped hole that’s deep enough to cover the roots.
- Without bending or twisting the roots, place the seedling in the hole. Don’t worry about adjusting the roots unless they’re wrapped around the stem.
- Put the soil back in the hole. Hold the seedling upright and plant it so the “root collar” is level with the ground.
- Gently pack the soil around the seedlings to remove air pockets.
- Water your new tree.
Planting potted seedlings
- Remove loose vegetation and dig a hole as deep as the pot and twice as wide.
- Tip plant out of the pot and loosen any rootbound roots (roots growing in a circular path)
- Place in hole ensuring the top of the potted portion is level with the hole.
- Put the soil back in the hole.
- Gently pack the soil around the seedlings to remove air pockets.
- Water your new tree.
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