SAMPLE TREE PLANTING SPECIFICATIONS

endorsed by

Ohio Green Industry Association and ODNR Division of Forestry

Purpose: To increase transplanting success by providing municipalities with the most current and acceptable tree planting procedures.  This information, prepared in specification format, will enable communities to convey specific requirements to contractors, developers, and/or volunteers. It contains the fundamental elements necessary to ensure transplanting success, and is intended to be a template that can be expanded to address other project issues.

Endorsement: This information is approved and endorsed by the Ohio Nursery and Landscape Association, and the Ohio Department of Natural Resources Division of Forestry.

Assumptions: All plant material complies with American Standard for Nursery Stock ANZI Z60.1.  All plant material has been selected based on site conditions and constraints.

Planting Balled and Burlapped Trees:

1. If not readily apparent, locate trunk flare by removing twine, burlap, and excess soil.
2. Dig tree hole at least two times wider than the root ball, with sides sloped to an unexcavated or firm base. Dig hole to a depth so the located trunk flare, at the first order lateral root, will be at finished grade.
3. Lifting only from the bottom of the root ball, position tree on firm pad so that it is straight and top of trunk flare is level with the surrounding soil.
4. Remove all twine from the root ball. If present, remove and discard at least the top one half of the wire basket.  Burlap shall be removed from the top to a point halfway down the root ball and discarded.  Ideally, all burlap and wire basket should be removed from the root ball.
5. With clean, sharp pruning tools, prune off any secondary/adventitious, girdling, and potential girdling roots.
6. Backfill planting hole with existing unamended soil, and thoroughly
7. Mulch the entire planting surface with composted bark applied no less than two inches (2″) deep and no more than three inches (3″) deep, leaving three inches (3”) adjacent to the tree trunk free of mulch.

Planting Containerized or Grow Bag Trees:

1. If not readily apparent, locate trunk flare by removing excess soil.
2. Dig tree hole at least two times wider than the root ball with sloping sides. Dig hole to a depth so the located trunk flare, at the first order lateral root, will be at finished grade.
3. Create a firm soil mound at the bottom of the planting hole.
4. Remove tree from container or grow bag and select from option a or b
   1. Completely tease apart root system, repositioning any girdling or potentially girdling roots. Spread roots over soil mound so that trunk flare is at finished grade and the tree is straight.
   2. With a sharp saw, shave off the entire outer 1 inch (1”) of the root ball. Place in planting hole so that trunk flare is at finished grade and the tree is straight.
5. With clean, sharp pruning tools, prune off any secondary/adventitious, girdling, and potential girdling roots.
6. Backfill planting hole with existing unamended soil and thoroughly water.
7. Mulch the entire planting surface with composted bark applied no less than two inches (2″) deep and no more than three inches (3″) deep, leaving three inches (3”) adjacent to the tree trunk free of mulch.

Planting Bare Root Trees:

1. Dig tree hole at least two times wider than the root ball with sloping sides.  Dig hole to a depth so the located trunk flare, at the first order lateral root, will be at finished grade.
2. Create a firm soil mound at the bottom of the planting hole.
3. Spread roots over soil mound so that trunk flare is at finished grade and the tree is straight.
4. With clean, sharp pruning tools, prune off any secondary/adventitious, girdling, and potential girdling roots.
5. Backfill planting hole with existing unamended soil and thoroughly water.
6. Mulch the entire planting surface with composted bark applied no less than two inches (2″) deep and no more than three inches (3″) deep, leaving three inches (3”) adjacent to the tree trunk free of mulch.