The following are the steps to planting most Balled and Burlaped (B&B) plants.

Step 1-Digging your hole
We all know how to dig hole in the ground with a shovel, however this step is to cover hole size and depth as well as any prep work.  If you are planting a plant in a grass area or planting in a flower bed with rock or bark then before you dig lay a tarp close to the planting area to hold the dirt.  It will keep the rock, grass and bark clean.  Never haul the dirt away until you are finished with the planting project, so you don't carry it out of the yard only to need bring more back.  For a B&B plant the hole size should be twice the width of the root ball or pot and 2 to 3 inches deeper. 

Step 2-Prepping the Soil
Most of the soil in the Tri-City area is sand loam with rock mixed in.  There is not a lot of humus (organic matter) for the tree to naturally grow and thrive.  So to get the plant off to a healthy start use a little compost (Steer Manure + Bark) comes in bags that are affordable.  However you only want to use 1 part compost to 3 parts soil.  Pour half the portion in the bottom of the hole and work into the soil so that the compost is mixed well into the dirt.  The other half of the compost portion should be mixed with the fill dirt that will be used to burry the trees root system.  Always mix well when using compost.

Step 3a- Removing the Plant from a Pot  
To remove a plant from it plastic pot, lay the plant on its side.  Then lightly push on the pot, using more force as the pot size increases.  DO NOT SMASH THE POT.  By pushing on the plant you have loosened it away from the root ball, then simply slide the plant out of the pot.

 Step 3b- Removing the Plant from a Wire Basket
Sometimes Balled and Burlap plants are in a wire basket.  On this use a pair of bolt cutter cut the bottom of the basket off.  Wait until the root ball is in the hole to cut the rest of the basket off.

Step 4-Setting the Plant into the hole and checking the depth
Place the plant in the hole, center it, and turn the plant in the direction that you like to look at.  The top of the root ball of the plant should be even with you yards grade, not above, or below. Now bury the root system.  Then with the extra fill dirt build a basin or dirt wall around the edge of the hole.

Step 5-Removing the Burlap and Backfilling
Once the depth has been set, now you can remove the burlap, center the plant in the hole and cut the strings (if needed cut the remaining wire basket off now) .  Unfold the burlap to the bottom of the hole, either cut it out or gently pull it.  Just be sure not to disturb the root ball.  Also check the surface dirt at the top of the root ball, some nurseries don't remove it and even if the plant is at proper depth it still could be too deep.  To check this, just work you hand gently in the root ball if there are roots there is no extra surface dirt.  If there is remove the dirt until you get to the roots.

Step 6-Watering the plant in-THE MOST VITAL PART
This is the most critical part of successful planting is water the plant in.  We are not talking sprit zing with droplets but literally mudding the plant in.  While the hose is on work the hose into the filled hole and allow the water to come to the surface and fill the basin.  This practice is less muddy than filling the hole with water and removes the need to tamp for the water settles the dirt to get rid of air pockets.  

Step 7-Fertilizer Tablets and Collapsing the Basin
After the water has drained away, now is the time place the fertilizer tablets we gave you for the plant.  Poke these pellets down 3 inches deep and 3 inches away from the root ball also space the tablets around the hole at equal distance apart.  Next you are now ready to collapse the basin and fix any points where the dirt did settle.  Then haul all remaining dirt away or work smooth.

Now you have start your new plant out right and remember to repeat these steps for every plant you plant including the annuals.