Buffer Planting & Care FAQs
IF I CAN’T PLANT MY SEEDLINGS IMMEDIATELY, WHAT SHOULD I DO?
Try to plant your seedlings as quickly as possible. In the meantime, keep your seedling roots moist by filling a bucket with water and dunking the roots, gently shaking off any excess water. Keep them in their bundle bag and store them in a dark, cool place like a garage or basement.
I’M READY TO PLANT MY SEEDLINGS, WHAT CONSIDERATIONS SHOULD I TAKE INTO ACCOUNT?
First, check the weather and choose to plant on a day that is cool, cloudy, and humid (if possible). Make sure your seedlings never sit out in direct sunlight.
If you are planting your seedlings in an area that could possibly be near underground utilities, contact Miss Utility (missutility.net) 2-5 days before your planting. Identify your desired planting area with stakes or biodegradable white paint. Also take into consideration utilities that Miss Utility will not mark, such as septic fields, irrigation lines, and private gas lines.
When considering where to plant your seedlings, there are a few things to take into account:
Do not plant in a heavily trafficked area (vehicular or pedestrian), or underneath power lines.
Consider the spacing of the plantings. Large trees should be spaced according to their mature canopy spread. Understory trees and shrubs should be planted according to their mature height and width. You can find these details for your seedlings here.
Configure your planting based on what works best with your available space.
How do I plant my buffer?
We have created a free, virtual workshop to provide you with the best practices for planting your tree seedlings. Watch it here!
NOW THAT MY SEEDLINGS ARE PLANTED, HOW DO I PROTECT THEM?
If you purchased deer protection, the tube should be relatively easy to install. Drive your wooden stake into the ground about 1 foot deep on the uphill side of your seedling, about 2-3 inches from its base, keeping your stake vertical.
Gently place your tube over your seedling, making sure not to harm any of its branches. Secure your tube to the stake using the provided zip ties by looping the ties through the holes of the tube and around the stake like the picture below.
For added protection from weeds and invasive species, and to conserve moisture in the soil, mulch around your seedlings. It is recommended that you mulch to 2-3 inches deep with shredded hardwood mulch around your planting, keeping the mulch 2-3 inches away from the base of the plant. At that depth, spread the mulch about 2 feet around the seedling. You can do a 2 foot circle of mulch, but you might also consider mulching a 2 foot by 2 foot square, as that makes mowing a little easier.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I WATER MY SEEDLING AND WHEN?
Because you received your bundles later in the Spring, it is imperative to keep them watered through the late spring and early summer. Since you planted the seedlings as bare roots, you have a good idea of how deep and wide their roots are. For the first year, you should water as follows, unless we have rainy weather:
1-2 weeks after planting, water daily
3-12 weeks after planting, water every 2 to 3 days
After 12 weeks, water the seedlings every 7-10 days, unless we received a good, soaking rain
The water should soak into the soil and mulch and get to the depth and width of the roots of the seedlings. It is best to water in the early morning hours, prior to the heat of the day.