Do You Need to Remove the Burlap When Planting Trees?

Planting trees is an essential task for improving the environment and enriching our lives. However, there are several specific requirements that we must take into account when planting trees. One of the most common questions that arise during tree planting is whether it is necessary to remove the burlap from the tree’s root ball.

Understanding Burlap in Tree Planting

Burlap is a woven fabric used to wrap the root ball of a tree. The fabric is usually a blend of jute and other organic fibrous materials. The burlap is designed to support the tree’s root system during transportation and planting. The purpose of the burlap is to hold the soil around the roots in place, which provides stability for the tree.

Reasons for Removing Burlap when Planting Trees

Although burlap is helpful as a tree wrapping and packaging material, it is not designed to stay on the tree's root system permanently. Leaving burlap in place can lead to a variety of problems such as root constriction, reduced soil drainage, and potential damage to the tree's overall health. Thus, it's necessary to remove the burlap when planting the tree to prevent these issues. The burlap may invite insects to treat the tree, and that may reduce the tree’s overall health, which might cause it to die. Also, where the burlap doesn’t rot outside it may cause a barrier between the soil and the growing tree roots, and that will make it hard for the growing roots to reach the soil and evict any weeds surrounding it.

When is it Recommended to Remove Burlap?

If the burlap on a tree’s root ball is synthetic or made from plastic, it should always be removed before planting the tree. Synthetic burlap materials do not decompose over time and can remain trapped around the tree’s roots for years, causing potential hazards. However, for natural burlap, it is often possible to leave some of it in place. If the wrapping is a natural burlap material and hasn’t started to rot, it’s recommended to remove the top half of the burlap while leaving the bottom half. This future guarantees that the burlap is still providing the young tree enough protection while allowing enough air, sunlight, and water to get to the roots.

The Bottomline:

Removing the burlap is necessary, especially when it is synthetic or plastic, but it's of great importance to understand whether the burlap is harmful or not so that we don't harm the young trees when we're trying to help them.

Planting new trees is an essential aspect of environmental responsibility. Proper planting techniques are fundamental to ensuring that the tree grows to its full potential. Understanding the importance of removing the burlap during planting is an integral part of ensuring the long-term health of the tree. Therefore, whether you're planting a tree in your yard or on a large farm, always remember to remove the burlap from the root ball of the tree for the best results.