Ball and Burlap Planting Instructions
At our nursery we sell large plant material, such as evergreens and deciduous trees, that don’t fit in our traditional nursery pots. Because they are so large, we use a tree spade and corresponding machinery that carves around the root ball and pulls the tree out of the ground. The machine will place the tree and its root ball into a wire basket with burlap inside. The root ball is then cleaned up from grass and weeds, and the burlap is tied around the soil to protect the roots. The basket is tied using nursery twine to secure it and the trees are moved to either stock blocks or the store to be sold.
Purchasing a tree of this size generally means you will require equipment to move and plant it. Something with forks will generally work, a small tractor, or front end loader. Please keep this in mind, and have a designated landscape team or crew to help you if you do not have the equipment.
Instructions for Planting Ball and Burlap Trees
Our baskets are 30 inches across. The width of your hole should be at least 12 inches wider on all sides for appropriate planting. The depth of the hole should be dug only AS deep as the ball is tall, approximately 19 inches.
Once your hole is dug, you’re ready to place the basket and adjust it to your desired position.
Remove the ropes at the top of the root ball, and untie the burlap from around the base of the tree.
Carefully cut the wires to the depth you can reach and remove the excess.
Fold back the burlap, or cut it off where it meets the remaining basket.
Backfill around the ball in layers, tamping firmly as you go. Create a “crater” on the surface and fill with water. Repeat this several times to make sure the entire root ball is damp. Keep well-watered until freeze-up.
Note: Deciduous trees should be supported using three metal stakes driven into unmoved ground, and attached with tree tie. If you have wire and an old garden hose laying around, they can be used together to create ties for the tree as the hose will protect the trunk from wire cutting into it.
Conifers are usually supported with three ground stakes and wires to the trunk with protectors. For safety, place flagging tape on the wires for visibility.
False Balls
A false balled tree is similar to the above mentioned material, but instead of being dug from the ground with the root ball intact, these trees have been dug in a way that the soil could be shaken off. A false ball is essentially a bare root plant that has been freshly potted into a basket with a burlap liner.
Instructions for Planting False Balls
The instructions to plant false balls are nearly identical to those for planting a root ball. The difference is in step number 4.
Our baskets are 30 inches across. The width of your hole should be at least 12 inches wider on all sides for appropriate planting. The depth of the hole should be dug only AS deep as the ball is tall, approximately 19 inches.
Once your hole is dug, you’re ready to place the basket and adjust it to your desired position.
Remove the ropes at the top of the root ball, and untie the burlap from around the base of the tree.
Carefully cut the top wires to the first horizontal wire, leaving the basket itself in place.
Fold back the burlap, or cut it off where it meets the remaining basket.
Backfill around the ball in layers, tamping firmly as you go. Create a “crater” on the surface and fill with water. Repeat this several times to make sure the entire root ball is damp. Keep well-watered until freeze-up.
The same notes apply for staking and supporting the trees.