TM 5-803-13/AFM 126-8
3-7. Planting operations. High quality plants,
appearance in a given location.
(2) Future watering. To facilitate future watering,
carefully transported and transplanted immediately with
adherence to the procedures described below, will usually
a saucer-shaped depression should be formed in the soil
become established quickly in their new environment.
around individual plants. Where trees are planted in an
a. Storage of plants on the site. Plants not planted
area surrounded by paving, at least one vertical watering
on the day of arrival at the site should be placed in pro-
tube should be placed during backfilling to permit
tected areas and kept moist to prevent drying of roots and
watering of the root system. Watering tubes can be 4-inch
tops.
agricultural tile, 4-inch perforated plastic pipe or 4-inch
b. Plant Pits and beds. Plant pits and beds should be
perforated metal pipe filled to the ground surface with
prepared prior to delivery of the plants to permit
coarse, washed gravel.
d. Pruning. Pruning should be limited to the amount
immediate planting. Tree pits should be two feet larger
than the diameter of the earth ball or the maximum
necessary to compensate for the portion of the root sys-
spread of the roots and six inches deeper than the vertical
tem which has been lost during transplanting operations.
dimension of the earth ball or the maximum depth of the
Evaporation of moisture through the leaves must be
roots. Pits or trenches for shrubs should be dug only one
reduced to balance with the smaller intake capacity of the
foot wider than the spread of the roots, the diameter of
roots. If too much moisture is lost, the plant will die or
the earth balls or the width of the container and six inches
lose its leaves. If defoliation occurs quickly and the leaves
deeper than the vertical dimension of the earth ball
do not dry up slowly and hang on, the chances are very
container or depth of the roots. If the excavated soil is
good that the plant will send out new leaves after the root
suitable, it may be used as backfill around the roots or the
system has begun to recover. A safe practice is to cut
earth ball. Otherwise, the soil should be removed from
back the branches of deciduous plants approximately
the site.
one-third. Pruning of the secondary branches should
c. Placement of plants. Figure 3-2 illustrates proper
maintain the natural shape of the tree. The tip end of a
planting methods and placement for various types of
tree's main vertical stem or trunk, the leader, should
plants. Generally, plants should be set at such a level that,
never be cut as this may result in a radical change in the
after settling, they will maintain their original relationship
natural growth pattern. Broken and frayed roots should
to the ground surface, as indicated by the visible soil line
be cut off cleanly above the injuries to minimize the
at the base of the trunk. In some cases, plants are set
possibility of decay. It is not usually necessary to prune
slightly higher or lower than the original ground line to
evergreen material at the time of planting, but local
accommodate certain climatic or soil conditions. For
practices should be followed. The proper method of
example, palms are frequently planted considerably lower
pruning is to use well-sharpened equipment to make clean
in loose, sandy soil for stability in windy locations or to
cuts. The pruned surface of branches over one inch in
reach a low water table. Most plants, however, cannot
diameter should be treated with commercial tree paint (fig
tolerate being planted too low and will die if their root
3-3).
e. Tree wrapping. The trunks of deciduous trees over
crowns are smothered by being covered with excess soil.
When planting large trees in recently filled areas where
two inches in caliper should be wrapped with high grade
settling is likely to occur, the tree should be placed
burlap or a commercially prepared tree wrapping paper
slightly higher than the surrounding soil. In due course, it
immediately after planting. The wrapping material should
will settle and assume its correct relation to the
be wound spirally upward around the trunk to the second
surrounding ground surface. Sometimes, where water
major branch and secured. Wrapping retards evaporation
tables are high and normal drainage of pits and beds is
and prevents sun scald and splitting of the bark.
f. Guying and staking. The primary purpose of guying
difficult or uneconomical, trees and shrubs may be
planted in earth mounds. However, the relationship of the
and staking trees is to prevent excessive movement of the
soil level immediately above the plant's root system
trunk, thus keeping new, fibrous roots from breaking
should remain as it was prior to transplanting. Planting
their hold in the surrounding soil. Artificial support is
soil should be prepared and moistened prior to placing
especially necessary for trees with slender, weak trunks,
plants in the pits or beds. Dry soil should not be used as
for unusually large shrubs and in areas with adverse wind
backfill, but if this is unavoidable, water should be kept
conditions.
(1) Methods of Guying. Trees up to about 5-inch
running into the pit or bed to saturate the soil and settle
it around the roots after planting.
caliper will usually require three guys, each consisting of
(1) Setting plants. Backfill soil should be mounded
two strands of 12-gauge wire attached to the tree trunk in
in the bottom of the pit or bed and tamped to minimize
such manner as not to injure the bark, and tied at the
settling and allow firm placement of plants. Each plant
ground to heavy stakes (deadmen) or commercially
should then be held in a vertical position and turned to
available anchors. The bark should be protected from
take advantage of its natural characteristics for best
3-5
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