Tree Planting Checklist

1. Decide what you want from your land. Is your objective to provide food and cover for wildlife? Perhaps you want to plant trees to stabilize soil and prevent erosion. Are you thinking of a living snow fence? You may want to grow trees as a commercial crop for future harvest of pulpwood and timber.
2. Find out what kind of trees your land is capable of growing. Some species, such as black walnut, do not tolerate the exteremly cold winters found in central and northern Wisconsin. Oaks grow well in the open sun, but maples prefer the shade. Some trees like sandy soils, others do not. Plantation Design, Planting Trees as Windbreaks, and Plantings Trees for Wildlife tips are available from the State Nursery Program. The "Forestry Facts" bulletins on planning, planting and maintenance from University of Wisconsin Extension can also provide guidance. For large projects, the DNR forester serving your county is available to examine the planting site and will prepare a planting plan for you.
3. You need to start work for a successful tree planting project approximately nine months before tree seedlings arrive in the spring. A critical step for successful tree planting is to provide a clean planting bed. Grass and weeds will not allow bare-root tree seedlings to grow. Don't bother to plant trees or shrubs without doing Site Preparation first.
4. Plan to order tree seedlings five to six months in advance. Popular hardwoods like oaks will often be sold out by November (even though they will not be planted until April). Pines and other conifers may be available for ordering through January and February. State nurseries and private nurseries in Wisconsin grow tree seedlings adapted to our climate. Other mid-western or Lake States nurseries also produce stock that will grow well, but avoid ordering from nurseries more than 100 miles south of the state line.

   Tree planting machine (photo by Paul Pingrey, WI DNR)

5. Plant tree and shrub seedlings in April or early May by following these planting procedures. Seedlings may be planted by hand using a shovel or planting bar or with a tree planting machine. Check with the DNR forester in your county to find out if a planting machine is available to use. Many counties have planting machines that they rent out for a reasonable fee. The landowners must usually provide their own tractor and crew to do the planting. Once they get the knack of using a machine, people can plant about 5,000 trees (7-10 acres worth) a day with a planting machine. To be practical, plan on a maximum of 500 trees per day per person for hand planting crews. If you do not want to plant trees yourself, check with your DNR forester for a list of custom tree-planting services. Custom tree planters can do the entire job for you, including the site preparation, planting and follow up care.
6. Don't expect to walk away from your seedlings once they are in the ground. You may need to return periodically to remove grass and weeds. Sometimes animal control measures are needed if rabbits, deer or rodents take a liking to the new greens. Because insects and diseases may become a problem in plantations, pruning and thinning may also become necessary. Visit Forest Health Protection to learn about common pests and diseases of Wisconsin trees.
7. Check your wallet! If you hire someone to plant trees for you, a typical project will run from about $250 per acre for all pines to around $500 per acre for a hardwood/pine mix. (Costs may be up to 40% less if you do the work yourself.) You may be able to get state or federal cost-sharing assistance which will reimburse 50% to 65% of the planting expense. See your forester for details.