DIY Plant a Tree Guide Information Sheet for

‘DIY - Plant a Tree Guide’ Information Sheet for Schools Before you plant your tree, make sure you choose a suitable site which is not water logged and also provides the necessary light conditions for the tree species you have selected. It is also important to choose a site with sufficient space for your tree to grow. Dig a hole, measuring 1 m by 1 m or roughly about 3 times the size of the tree rootball and backfill it with new soil mix. See Steps 1 and 2 below. On the day of the planting, do not water the sapling before it is planted. This is to prevent the soil from becoming soggy and the root ball from breaking apart when the polythene bag (the plastic bag surrounding the root ball of the sapling) is removed. Step 1 Step 2 On the day of the planting 1. Dig a hole in the soil mix that is sufficiently big enough to accommodate the sapling’s root ball. The depth of the excavation must be the same height as the root ball. 2. Use scissors or a penknife to cut out the base of the polythene bag. See Step 3. Root ball in a polythene bag Step 3 3. Place the tree into the hole. Position it such that your sapling is upright. 4. Cut away the remaining polythene bag and remove it. See Step 4 1

5. Shovel the excavated soil back into the hole. Do not backfill soil against the trunk of the sapling or bury the trunk in soil. Backfilling soil against the trunk would increase the likelihood of the tree’s trunk rotting in the future. X Do not backfillsoil againstthe trunk. Step 5 √ Root ball 6. Ensure that your tree guard (plastic tube) is placed around the trunk of the sapling. This to protect the sapling from possible injuries. See Step 5. 7. Insert a stake into the ground, beside the root ball. Do not insert the stake into the root ball. Inserting the stake into the root ball may cause damage and result in stress to the plant. X Stake √ Stake Root ball 8. Tie the sapling to the stake. This will help hold the tree upright, minimise movement of the root ball, and help the tree establish faster. 9. Remember to water your tree every day for at least two months. 2