Goal:

The goal at this stage is to safely unbox your tree and get it set up for success.

Unboxing:

1. To ensure you're home to unpack your tree within 24 hours of delivery, monitor the tracking information and plan accordingly. Your tree may have been in transit for several days and will need to be freed from its box soon after arrival.
2. Carefully cut the packing tape at the top of the box using a razor or scissors. Be sure to keep the blade shallow to avoid damaging the tree.
3. Gently remove the tree and its growing pod from the box, setting aside the tree guard in a safe place. You will not need the tree guard for a few weeks.
4. Keep the burlap sack securely tied. There is no need to open it when watering.

Watering:

1. Water the tree with room temperature water, adding about 2 inches to the bottom of the growing pod.
2. Allow the water to sit for 5 minutes. If there is excess water, carefully tip the growing pod upside down over the sink to drain any excess. The tree will remain secure.

Sunning:

1. Place your tree in a safe, sunny location where it can stay for the next few weeks.
2. Refer to the "Care Until Planting" instructions below for detailed information on caring for your tree during the first few weeks.

Goal:

The objective is to nurture your tree in its protective growing pod until it reaches approximately 12 inches in height.

Watering:

1. Thanks to the special biochar soil's ability to retain moisture, your tree needs watering only every few days.
2. Water the tree with room temperature water, adding about 2 inches to the bottom of the growing pod.
3. Allow the water to sit for 5 minutes. If there is excess water, carefully tip the growing pod upside down over the sink to drain any excess. The tree will remain secure.
4. Adjust your watering frequency based on absorption; water less often if little water is absorbed, and slightly more if it absorbs quickly. Always drain any excess water.  Also be aware that water needs increase as temperatures increase.

Sunning:

1. Keep your tree in a safe, sunny indoor spot for the next few weeks.
2. When the tree is around 10 to 12 inches tall (height above the burlap sack), it’s ready for hardening.

Hardening:

1. Ease new trees into full exposure to sun and wind by placing them on a covered porch, under a shade tree, or in a protected area outside for the day.
2. Bring the trees in at night to protect them from frost and/or pests.
3. Check the water levels daily because the sun and wind could be drying the trees out much faster.
4. Hardening of the tree takes around 1 week.  After that, you are ready to plant the tree outside. (Refer to "Planting" instructions below)

Goal:

The objective is to safely transplant your tree into its final home.

Preparation:

1. Only plant when there is no more risk of frost for at least a month.
2. Select the planting site carefully. Ensure the tree is at least 75 feet away from any buildings and has access to full sunlight and well-draining soil.
3. Remove competing vegetation from the planting area so that planted trees have full access to available resources. A vegetation-free space about 3 feet in diameter is good for young trees.
4. Dig a hole that is as deep as the burlap sack and twice as wide.
5. Using a razor or scissors, carefully cut out the bottom of the plastic growing pod. This is necessary as the burlap sack is attached to the pod, separating it from the top.

Transplanting:

1. With a razor or scissors, carefully cut off the bottom of the burlap sack. This prevents the plastic growing pod from being buried and encourages root spread.
2. Position the tree, still in the burlap sack, in the center of the hole.
3. Cut additional slits in the burlap sack while the tree is in the hole to facilitate root spreading and minimize soil loss.
4. Place the tree upright in the hole and pack soil around the burlap, ensuring there are no air pockets.
5. Loosen the drawstring of the burlap sack and fold it under the soil as you fill the hole.
6. Cover the roots with soil, burying the tree up to the top of the burlap sack.
7. Water your tree with around 1 gallon of water.

Protecting:

1. Immediately after planting, protect your tree with the provided tree guards.
2. Prepare your materials: lay out zip ties, tree guards, and metal stakes.
3. Form a tube by rolling one of the tree guards along its long edge. This will form a tube approximately 12 inches tall and 5 inches in diameter.
4. Secure the tube with three zip ties at the top, middle, and bottom.  Cut off the excess zip tie.
5. Repeat the process for the second tube.
6. Gently lower the first tube over the tree, ensuring it is centered and leaves aren’t pinched.
7. Secure the tube at the base with the metal stakes.
8. Place the second tube over the first and secure it with two additional zip ties.

Goal:

The objective is to nurture your tree for the first years of its life.

Watering:

• 1st month: water your tree twice a week with around 1 gallon of water.  (You can skip this step if you are getting equivalent rain.)
• 2nd month: decrease watering frequency to once per week with 1 gallon of water.  (You can skip this step if you are getting equivalent rain.)
• 3rd month: water your tree every other week with 1 gallon of water. (You can skip this step if you are getting equivalent rain.)
• 4th month and beyond: only water your tree if you aren’t getting any rain.

Weeding:

• Remove any competing weeds by hand until the tree is several feet tall.  Do not use any herbicides.

Fertilizing:

• There is no need to fertilize your tree.