Ball and Burlap (otherwise known as B&B) trees have been planted, allowed to grow, then dug up and sold to nurseries, where they can be kept for several months. They’re sold with their root balls wrapped in — you guessed it — burlap, which is usually covered with a wire cage to protect it. While B&B trees are more difficult to handle than bare-root trees due to their maturity, they’re also generally hardier and will give you the look of a tree that’s been established in your lawn.
B&B trees can be planted anytime during the growing season. They sometimes need to be lifted by machinery, as they can be quite heavy. Follow these seven steps to successfully plant a B&B tree:
1. Before you purchase the tree, inspect it carefully to make sure there are no cuts, gouges, or any other wounds on the trunk.
2. Once you get the B&B tree to your property, dig a hole that will fit the entire root ball, with its width at least half greater than the root ball.
3. Cut off the wire from the root ball, and remove as much of the burlap as possible. Keep in mind that standard burlap will decay, but if your tree has been wrapped in synthetic burlap, you’ll need to be very careful to remove as much of that as possible, as it could inhibit root growth. Untie the branches and determine how you’d like to place the tree.
4. Set the tree into the hole, then begin to fill the hole with the soil you dug out. Water it when it’s halfway full of soil, then again when you’ve finished filling it with soil. Soak the area with water; make sure it’s getting down deep to the roots of the tree. You can create a “saucer” around the edge of the hole to help retain water and make sure it’s soaking down into the roots.
5. Make sure the root ball is level with or just above the top of the hole.
6. Spread a few inches of mulch around the tree.
7. Keep your tree well-watered until the roots have had a chance to grow and the tree has become established in your lawn.
Get the beautiful look of B&B trees on your landscape without the hassle of hauling and planting! TPS has the proper equipment to carefully handle the transportation of the trees to your property. We’ll ensure that your B&B trees are planted and watered properly to ensure their establishment in your lawn. Here’s what one of our customers had to say about the trees we planted for him:
I am sending this letter to you and TPS to sing the praises of the crew that just planted 16 ten-foot green giants on my property. Mike set it up and everything went smoothly and as planned. The trees were delivered on time and the job was done at the arranged time. My highest compliments to the work crew that did the planting, dug the surrounding beds and put down ground cloth and mulch. The job they did looks FANTASTIC! Erik, Sean and Jason did an excellent and BEAUTIFUL job. They were extremely thorough with each important step of the planting process - including all the soil and root ball prep and making sure the trees were perfectly vertical and buried to the correct depth. I was equally impressed with the creation of the shoveled beds, the smooth and even edges, the ground cloth and mulch application. Not only did they work tirelessly, but it was obvious that they cared about doing a good job. My highest compliments to them all. And on top of all that, they are all very friendly young men of good character who work well as a team.
I would request them anytime. — Tony
We'll be happy to give you a FREE quote on planting B&B trees. Give us a call today!