Obtaining and Planting Your Trees - Growing Organic Orchard Fruits - page 347

This technique is called ball-and-burlap, and the burlap-wrapped root balls
may or may not be supported with wire baskets.
Keep the root balls buried in moist compost, sawdust, or wood chips for
short-term storage and plant as soon as possible. While they are in storage,
keep the root balls moist and apply a liquid fertilizer weekly if the trees have
broken dormancy and begun forming leaves and flowers.
Handle the trees very carefully, and do not allow the root balls to be
dropped, shaken, or otherwise damaged. Lift the plants by the bottoms of the
root balls and never by the trunk or stem. Pulling on or twisting a trunk will
break many small roots within the ball and can stunt or kill a plant. Once the
root ball is gently placed in the planting hole, remove any twine or other ties
around the trunk and peel the fabric back away from the trunk for at least
several inches. Slit the fabric vertically at least four times around the root
ball. Do not remove the burlap fabric or wire basket; trying to do so often
damages the root balls and can stunt or kill the trees. Research has shown
that the roots easily penetrate the burlap and grow through the wire basket
openings.
IRRIGATION SYSTEMS, TRELLISES, AND
FENCING
Before planting, you should have your irrigation system in place and
operational, as well as trellis poles and anchors (see chapter 12 ➔ ).
If your site is susceptible to pressure from moose, white-tailed deer,
or other herbivores, strongly consider installing an herbivore fence
before planting your trees or bushes (see chapter 11 ➔ ). This is the
only effective method of keeping herbivores out of an orchard in areas
where the animals are abundant.