Removing bags from trees

• Before removing the bag from the tree lean the tree over and with a sharp knife cut across the bottom of bag and 150mm up each side.
• Loosen the bottom of the bag from the roots.
• Position the tree at its best aspect before placing in the hole.
• Using the bag handles, place bag in prepared hole after making sure that the hole is correct depth. The existing soil level in the bag should match the soil level of the garden or lawn. (No more than 50mm below if required for watering).
• Complete cuts up both sides of the bag and remove the 2 halves.
• Lightly trim/tip prune roots that are circling the bag.
• Backfill, fertilise and water thoroughly. Ensure filling is firm.

To Move Bags Without a Suitable Trolley

Up to 150 Litre size bags can be manoeuvred by hand (elderly people are exempt). If possible, water the ground (concrete grass etc.) as a lubricant, then take the two handles that are closest together and drag left, right, left, right in a zigzag fashion. You will be surprised how easy it is.

Shrubs and Trees from 25 Litre+ size bags

Plants can be planted out most times of the year, provided the following points are followed:

If the soil is not well drained it is advisable to make a circular mound 1.5 metres across and 20-30 cm high (or bigger for trees in bags greater than 100 litre). This can be achieved by bringing outside loamy soil to the planting site or alternatively mound existing soil. Do not plant in holes in heavy clay soils unless an adequate drain extends from the hole. The hole will act like a sump and the plant’s roots will become waterlogged. To determine the drainage rate, fill your hole with water prior to planting the tree and gauge how long the water takes to drain away.

The plants should be watered thoroughly several hours before planting to moisten the root ball. Planting out with the root ball dry or partially dry will result in roots being damaged and poor establishment. The planting site should also be thoroughly watered the day before planting.

Make a hole in the soil or mound as recommended on “Bag Sizes” page. Cut the bag from the plant and lightly tease roots down the side of the root ball and loosen any matted roots at the base of root ball. Fill in soil around roots, making sure not to plant root ball any more than 2 cm lower than it was in the bag. Plants will suffer if planted too deep. Soil should be firmed down well after planting. At least 20 litres of water (for 25 litre bags and more for larger bags) should be applied to each tree to settle in soil around roots. A saucer shaped depression 50 cm in diameter will help hold water when watering in.

Digging your hole is probably the least desirable job to do when planting advanced trees. However, other means are available. The best idea is to get someone else to dig it for you. Refer to Tree Planters.

If you can get a machine to the planting spot the correct machine to use is a small excavator, preferably on rubber tracks. These are readily available as a combination with bobcats from several private contractors and hire companies. The bobcats are useful also to transport the trees and remove excavated material not required.

Another helpful machine is a mechanized posthole borer. These are available from your local hire companies also. They would have various sized augers available. I would use a 200 mm auger or less and drill a number of holes in your planting spot as close as possible together. Then on completion of this, remove the balance with a sharp spade.

Sometimes when you are digging in very hard ground, it helps to space the digging over a couple of days and keep filling the hole with water overnight. Always keep in mind the crowbar with a sharp spade-like end is probably the most important tool for hand digging holes in hard ground.

Of course, always check where underground services are located before digging. See Dial Before You Dig at the top of this page.

When digging a hole, make sure that the walls are not an even shape. You don’t need to form another pot that may drive the roots into a larger “pot” shape. If using a posthole borer, roughen the walls of the hole with a crowbar or pick so the roots have a chance to penetrate the walls. Make sure that the walls are misshapen.

Applying a slow release fertilizer at planting will help the young plants off to a good start. This can be applied by scratching into surface around the young tree.

Plants are better off not staked, but if needed use two wooden stakes on each side of tree (30 cm from tree) and tie tree to these stakes using old pantyhose or similar material.

Mulching the plants with old straw, hay etc, will stop soil from drying out, heating up, and weeds from germinating and also add valuable organic matter. Do not apply mulch against plant as collar rot may occur. Plants that are susceptible to frost damage are better off without mulch during winter months, the reason being that bare soil kept moist will absorb heat during the day and radiate this heat at night reducing severity of frost.

The correct selection of species for each particular site is critical to success. Added to this if the ground is prepared correctly i.e. fertilizer and water are available, all species shown in this booklet will grow well in our subtropical climate.