Tree Planting Is Easy

Why Plant Trees

• To sustain the forest as a renewable resource
• To grow timber and wood products
• To provide wildlife food and cover
• To prevent soil erosion and protect our streams, rivers, and lakes from sedimentation
• To beautify the landscape
• To shield us from the wind, sun, noise, or unsightly areas
• To celebrate special occasions such as Arbor Day
• To establish a legacy or memorialize a loved one

Where to Plant Trees

• In cut-over areas
• In larger forest openings that receive full sunlight
• In woodlands where low-quality trees need to be replaced by faster growing trees
• In and around eroded gullies
• In retired fields
• In and around homes, schools, churches, factories, parks, cities, and towns
• Around landfills and along highways

What Kinds of Trees to Plant

• Some kinds of trees are best suited for certain types of soil or certain sections of the state. For instance, longleaf pines are best suited for the southern part of Mississippi.
• Some kinds of trees, such as loblolly pines, are better and faster timber producers than others.
• Some kinds of trees are better suited for landscape purposes.
• Some trees, such as swamp white oaks and shagbark hickories, are better wildlife food-producers.

For more information about kinds of trees, their growth habitats, and uses, see Extension Publication 146 Know Your Trees, and consult your county Extension agent or county forester.

How and Where to Get Seedlings

• Seedlings are usually sold in bundles of 100 or 1,000. You may want to order seedlings as a group, such as landowners, homeowners, youth groups, civic groups, church groups, and so forth.
• MSU Extension Forestry publishes an annual directory of forest tree nurseries. Contact your local Extension office to request a copy of MTN 4E Forest Seedling Availability from In-State and Regional Nurseries.

Care and Handling of Seedlings

Before Planting

• Seedlings usually are packed in bundles (open to air) or bags (sealed).
• If seedlings are in sealed bags, keep them refrigerated until planted (34–38˚F/1.1–2.2˚C).
• Stack bundles to allow enough air circulation to prevent heat buildup.
• Store the bundles in the shade, but where they will not freeze. Seedlings can be stored in bundles for several weeks if the temperature remains between 34 and 38˚F.
• Open bags or bundles only as needed for planting.­­
• Plant seedlings as soon as possible after you receive them.
• Do not haul seedlings in open trucks. Too much wind can cause excessive drying and needle burn.

Watering Seedlings

• Water seedlings stored in bundles every 2 or 3 days. You can use a garden hose. Water one end of the bundle until the water runs out the other end. Turn the bundle over to be sure all parts of the bundle are watered. Prop one end of the bundle up to let the excess water drain out.
• If your seedlings are shipped in a sealed bag, no watering is necessary until after the bag is opened. Plant all seedlings in the bag as soon as possible, preferably by the end of the day the bag is opened.

Handling in the Field

• When transferring seedlings from the bag or bundle to a planting bag, dip the roots in water or a root slurry before putting them in the planting bag or bucket.
• Use a planting bag or bucket to carry the seedlings in the field, and cover the roots with mud, wet moss, root slurry, or water.

Heeling In

If seedlings must be stored on-site without refrigeration for a long period of time, they can be heeled into the ground.

Heeled-in seedlings can be removed from the trench when you are ready to plant. Remove only as needed, and immediately place the seedlings in a planting bag or bucket. Keep seedling roots covered with mud, wet moss, or root slurry until you plant them.

Planting Seedlings by Hand

Planting by hand is best suited for very hilly terrain and/or rough, cut-over sites.

With Dibble or Planting Bar

With Mattock or Grub Hoe

Other Tree-Planting Tools

• Post-hole digger
• Shovel
• Iron bar
• Spade

Machine Planting

With Mechanical Tree Planter

Mechanical tree planters are pulled by tractor. This process is often called machine planting. Machine planting is best suited to retired farm land or mechanically prepared planting sites.

Several mechanical tree planters have been developed and adapted to Mississippi conditions. In some counties, local boards of supervisors and industries have bought tree planters and made them available to farmers. Your local MSU Extension agent or Mississippi Forestry Commission service forester can tell you if one is available for your use.

How Many Seedlings to Plant

The number of tree seedlings to plant will vary with the seedling type and landowner objectives. Spacing determines the number of seedlings planted per acre. Wider spacing between rows (9 feet or more) permits equipment access into the stand.

Seedling Type	Trees per Acre (tpa)	Potential Spacing
First-generation pine	600–750	8 ft x 9 ft (605 tpa) 7 ft x 10 ft (622 tpa) 7 ft x 9 ft (691 tpa) 6 ft x 10 ft (726 tpa)
Second-generation pine Mass controlled pollinated (MCP) pine Container-grown loblolly pine Oak	500–550	8 ft x 11 ft (495 tpa)* 7 ft x 12 ft (518 tpa) 9 ft x 9 ft (537 tpa) 8 ft x 10 ft (544 tpa)
Varietal pine Container-grown longleaf pine	400–500	10 ft x 11 ft (396 tpa) 10 ft x 10 ft (435 tpa) 9 ft x 10 ft (484 tpa) 8 ft x 11 ft (495 tpa)

*Cost-share programs may require more trees per acre than this spacing allows.

When ordering seedlings, add 5–10 percent to the calculated total to allow for cull trees that are too small to plant, or shortages in packing.

Additional Reading

Kushla, J. D. (2020). Forest seedling availability from in-state and regional nurseries, 2020–2021. Department of Forestry, Management Technical Note 4E. Mississippi State University.

Self, A. B. (2019). Planting southern pines: A guide to species selection and planting techniques. Mississippi State University Extension Publication 1776. http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/planting-southern-pines-guide-species-selection-and-planting-techniques

Self, A. B. (2020). Artificial regeneration of bottomland hardwoods. Mississippi State University Extension Publication 3486. http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/artificial-regeneration-bottomland-hardwoods

Self, B., & Rousseau, R. J. (2021). What are genetically improved seedlings? Mississippi State University Extension Publication 2617. http://extension.msstate.edu/publications/what-are-genetically-improved-seedlings

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Publication 160 (POD-03-21)

Revised by John D. Kushla, PhD, Extension/Research Professor, Forestry, from an earlier edition by Andrew W. Ezell, PhD, George L. Switzer Professor of Forestry (retired).