What Do I Do When My Tree Arrives?

Please ensure trees are carefully unpacked on the day of delivery and given a good drink of water.

Handle your tree by the pot only. Do not lift it using the stem or branches – this is guaranteed to harm the tree and the damage may not show for weeks. Handling by the stem/branches puts strain on the root plate (where the stem becomes roots) and may snap the arteries pumping water into the tree.

Pleas see the section on this page called “What is this black spiky Air-pot?” for more information about the pot.

To unpack your boxed tree;

1) Lie the package down if you can.

2) Snip off any strapping and dispose of carefully.

3) Remove the tape from the bottom of the box (the end with knotches cut in it).

4) Reach inside and pop the knotches back out, if you can. These were securing the pot in place for transport.

5) Slide the tree out pot-first.

6) Water your tree immediately (see below) and stand it somewere sunny where it is not likely to blow over.

7) Plant or pot on (if doing so) as soon as possible.

Wooden crates:

You may need a saw or screwdriver if your tree is very large and comes packed in a protective wooden crate.

Do not attempt to remove the tree from the crate without dismantling the crate as they are designed to prevent the tree from moving, so you won’t be successful!

Water your tree immediately (see below).

Pallet delivery:

Pallet delivery is to kerb-side only. They most likely won’t bring it far onto your property.

Please have a couple of hands ready to move a large tree.

If you do not have a pallet shifter, you may find it easier to unpack the crate and then move the tree(s).

Please dismantle the pallet crate and dispose of packaging carefully; you may need a saw or screwdriver.

Handle your trees by the pot only.

Give your tree a good drink of water once it is in a safe position (see below) – they become difficult to move when heavy and wet.

We consider adequate watering to be:

a) Either, stand the tree in a bucket/tub/old bin filled with enough water to fully submerge the pot in water for 10 minutes. After 10 minutes soaking, remove by handling the pot only, not the stem or branches, and stand somewhere stable to allow the roots to drain.

This really hydrates the tree, so you can continue to do this once every-other day until it is planted or potted on.

b) Or, insert an irrigation spike, if you have an irrigation system, and leave it running for at least 15 minutes or until your system has been able to administer at least 2 pints of water (or more for a larger tree). The pot should then feel weighty, and this should be repeated daily in hot weather.

c) Or, leave a garden hose trickling very slowly onto the pot, near the stem, for at least 15 minutes. The pot should then feel weighty, and this should be repeated daily in hot weather.

d) Or, pour a pint (or more) or water onto the surface of the pot. Do this very slowly, just a few splashes at a time, as you may notice the compost rejects the first volume of water (this is because we do not use peat and our compost takes a while to rehydrate once dry). Leave the pot for 10 minutes or so to soak up this first drink, then apply another pint in the same manner. You may need to do this a few times for larger trees. The pot should then feel weighty, and this should be repeated daily in hot weather.

Please note: trees should be watered immediately before planting and continue to be watered at least every day during hot weather, 2-3 days during mild weather, and twice a week duing winter, but not during a frost. They cannot access moisture in the ground until they have grown new roots – this may take a year or more.