Westchester County NY Government

Bare root trees are young trees that are prepared for transplanting by removing them carefully from the ground, shaking off the soil, and taking care to keep nearly all of the roots intact.

Pros of bare-root trees:

• Retains nearly 100 percent of tree’s existing roots
• Cheaper
• Light, therefore easy to transport and plant, even by volunteers
• Easy to inspect trunk flare and roots
• Good if you have lots of trees to plant

Cons of bare-root trees:

• Can’t be done for mature trees
• Must be cared for attentively at first
• Cannot be done in summer or winter
• Until planting, roots must be kept moist with water or a special hydrogel root dip
• Requires a special “sweating” technique for birch, hawthorn, honeylocust, ironwood and oaks

Title: How to Plant Bare-Root Trees
Sponsoring Organization: Arbor Day
Description: This is a handy site that includes a one minute video and very helpful diagrams.

Title: Creating an Urban Forest: The Bare Root Method
Sponsoring Organization: Cornell University
Description: This has very specific directions on planting bare-root trees, including diagrams. It also has a list of trees indicating which are easy, moderately difficult, and difficult to plant with this method.

Title: Planting Bare-Root Trees
Sponsoring Organization: South Dakota State University
Description: Although this is about South Dakota, this has a very detailed explanation of “sweating,” a special technique needed for bare root planting of birch, hawthorn, honeylocust, ironwood and oaks.

Balled and burlapped trees are those trees prepared for transplanting by a process that digs up the rootball, cuts and leaves most of the roots detached and in the ground, and then wraps what remains of the roots with the soil that surrounds them in burlap and wire.

Pros of balled and burlapped trees:

• Less chance of roots drying
• Maintenance of soil root contact
• Greater species, size and availability

Cons of balled and burlapped trees:

• Heavy, making it difficult and expensive to transport, move and plant, especially for volunteers
• Contrast between potting mix in the ball and the soil into which it is planted
• Reduced root system; often 90-95 percent of roots are lost when tree is dug at nursery
• Difficult to inspect root system

Title: How to Plant Balled and Burlapped Trees
Sponsoring Organization: Arbor Day Foundation
Description: Great for homeowners! This link has a 2-minute video, diagrams, and easy to use information.

Title: Tree Planting: Ball and Burlap
Author/Source:Horticulture at North Carolina State University
Description: An excellent 4-minute video showing the process with a larger tree - includes why burlap and wire should be removed.

Title: Healthy Trees, Healthy Cities: Planting
Author/Source: LEAF and USDA
Description: Great video showing planting in a curbside location for both container and ball and burlap trees.

The planting method for trees that began their lives in pots of plastic or fabric require different attention from other planting techniques already discussed.

Planting containerized trees (trees that come in plastic pots)
Container trees are grown in a plastic pot. Having spent their whole lives in one container, the entire root ball is in the pot.

Pros of containerized trees:

• Lighter than balled and burlapped trees
• Greater species and seasonal availability
• Entire root system intact

Cons of containerized trees:

• Roots can be deformed and/or circling
• Unable to inspect entire root system when purchasing
• Contrast between potting mix and soil the tree is planted in

Title: Planting a New Tree
Author/Source: Cornell University
Description: Great 9-minute video on planting a containerized tree

Title: Planting Containerized Trees
Sponsoring Organization: Arbor Day Foundation
Description: Great for homeowners! This link has a great 1-minute video, diagrams, and easy-to-use information.

Title: Healthy Trees, Healthy Cities: Planting
Author/Source: LEAF and USDA
Description: Informative 6 ½-minute video showing planting trees in a curbside location for both container and ball & burlap trees. It recommends the best timing for planting trees (spring and fall) and suggests taking into account the local rainfall in species selection.

Title: Traditional Container Grown (CG) Tree Planting
Author/Source: Rick Harper, Urban Forestry Today
Description: Scroll down to watch an 8-minute long, but excellently detailed, video on the entire planting process.

Planting fabric container trees (grown in a fabric bag)
Fabric container trees have been grown in a “pot” made of strong fabrics, usually a synthetic material such as polypropylene.

Pros of fabric container trees:

• Easier to transport
• Good amount of root preservation

Cons of fabric container trees:

• Very delicate root system could be harmed
• Grow bag must be removed at transplanting / takes a great deal of care
• Requires vigilant watering

Title: In-Ground Fabric (IGF) Container Tree Planting
Author/Source: Urban Forestry Today
Description: Scroll down to watch an excellent and very detailed 12½-minute video on planting trees from in-ground fabric containers.

CU-Structural Soil™ is a revolutionary patented and trademarked tree planting medium developed at the Cornell University Urban Horticulture Institute. It is used when planting a tree in a sidewalk or other area that restricts the growth of the roots; it allows the tree to grow happily and keeps sidewalks and parking lots from being destroyed. The medium includes stones, soil and other materials meeting certain specifications such that it allows the tree roots to benefit from good drainage, aeration and nutrition.

Title: Using CU- Structural Soil™ in the Urban Environment
Author/Source: Urban Horticulture Institute, Cornell University
Description: Crystal-clear explanation of the benefits of using this product, with great photos and images so you can understand what CU Structural Soil™ is, and how and what to use it. On page 12 you will find a list of some street tree species appropriate for planting in this product.

Title: Tree Planting Standards
Sponsoring Organization: New York City Parks and Recreation
Description: While based on New York City, this extensive brochure may be helpful to municipalities. It explains exactly HOW and WHEN to use CU Structural Soil™ for urban sites. There is also a discussion of tree pit size, extolling the benefits of planting several trees in a larger pit, rather than several trees in several separate small pits.