I planted 850 bare root conifer last spring (Austrian Pine. Norway spruce, & white spruce). To plant, I laid out a grid so that the trees would be planted in rows, about 10-12 ft apart. Then with a wheelburrow full of seedlings I paced of 10-12 ft and planted. To plant, I tried several ways - but settled on an Ice-Spud. I could punch a hole with the spud in the wet ground, drop the seedling in, and kick in the base to close the hole as much as possible. It took two days, and I had tired shoulders and leg from kicking in the root.

I planted in the rain, in muddty ground - while messy proved to be good, as over 90% of the seedlings made it, and put on new growth over the summer. I planted in was a corn field the prior fall. I did not spray or mow last year, the berry bushes, and low weed growth protected the seedlings in the drought we had last summer. I plan to mow 2 times this year as grasses are beginning to establish.

I read that the largest cause of " loss" in seedlings - is mowing.