Planting Tree Seedlings

By Thembi Borras

For those of you still planning to plant tree seedlings, you probably know it is a little late in the season to be planting. The best time to plant tree seedlings in Mendocino County is at the beginning of the rainy season after 6" of rain has fallen. The idea is to plant tree seedlings as soon as the ground is wet enough to easily create a hole and at a time when the ground will remain consistently moist for several months while the seedling becomes established. Planting this late in the season may mean that in order for your seedlings to survive you will need to water them and or plant them in strategic locations so that they are protected from excessive sun and wind.

Once you have your seedlings, it is best to plant them right away or store them properly if you need to delay planting. In storage, you are trying to prevent the roots from drying out at the same time mold from forming, which requires a delicate balance of air circulation and moisture.

In addition to planting the seedling immediately, knowing how and where to plant will increase the chances that your seedling survives. Plant your seedling outside the drip line of existing trees, but opt for places that provide some protection from exposure. An excellent location is on the north side of a decaying log. Grass is a fierce competitor to seedlings, so if you plan to plant in grassland scarify an area down to bare mineral soil 12" to 24" in diameter, this buffer must be maintained until the tree is established. Although it is more important to pick the right spot, shoot for a distance of 8' to 12' between trees.

Make sure your hole is deep enough for the roots of the seedling to be fully extended. Then while holding the seedling fill the hole with dirt and tamp. Don't leave any air pockets near the roots. You can further increase the chance the tree will survive through maintenance, including removing competing brush and doing deep watering once every two weeks.

Go to http://www.fire.ca.gov/php/about_content/downloads/PlantingGuide2005.pdf for more information on planting. You can also go to http://www.fire.ca.gov/php/rsrc-mgt_statenurseries.php for information on purchasing seedlings from the State Nursery at Magalia.