Tree Planting Tips: How To Plant Seedlings

Dig a hole wide and deep enough to cover the root system.
Handle seedlings by the base of the stem, taking care not to bruise the bark.
Lay the roots straight down the hole in a natural arrangement. Do not bunch, spiral, double-over or bend roots.
Keep stones and twigs out of the hole (they create air pockets that dry out roots).
Plant seedlings slightly above the root collar swelling.
Cover with soil. Do not bury live branches or foliage, or leave any roots exposed to the air.
Tamp soil firmly with toe (not the heel) to remove air pockets.
Create a mulched area around the tree that is 50 percent larger than the spread of the branches and five to 10 centimetres deep. Wood chips or shredded pine or cedar bark are great mulch, as are oak leaves and pine needles.