June 2005 2400 0524–2323-MTDC
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Reusable Toweling For Wrapping Tree Seedlings

Brian Vachowski, Project Leader

Traditionally, sheets of burlap have been used for wrapping bareroot seedlings into a bundle or “jelly-roll” as they are taken from cold storage and repackaged to fit into tree planters' bags. Depending on their size, 35 to 50 seedlings are wrapped into each roll (figure 1). Before wrapping, the burlap is soaked in water so it will remain wet until the seedlings are planted. After use, the burlap is hand-rinsed, dried, and reused, sometimes for several seasons.

Illustration showing the procedure for wrapping tree seedlings. The first step consists of wetting the wrapping thoroughly before beginning. Then, the trees are arranged to prevent the roots from tangling. The wrap must be kept as ravel-free as possible to prevent entanglement. Finally, the right edge of the wrap must be kept free from trees to ensure that it completely covers the outer trees in the roll. The illustration shows that the wrap is 30 inches long by 18 inches wide. The foldline is at 13 inches wide, and the tree roots rest just above the foldline at 12 inches. Step 2: Place the groundling of each tree slightly below the edge of the wrap. Fold the wrap up over the roots at the foldline. Step 3: Tightly roll the trees in the wrap, ensuring that all the roots contact the wet wrap. Use a small nail to hold the end of the roll in place or tie the bundle with flagging or twine. Finally, The wrap that has been folded up over the roots wicks water from the bottom of the bag to keep the roots moist. It is noted that field evaluators from the Northern Rockies Region prefer to use 19 ½ -inch-wide material, to allow for more burlap to be folded back over the roots.
Figure 1—Diagram for wrapping tree seedlings adapted
from the Silvicultural Practices Handbook (Forest Service Handbook 2409.17).

The Forest Service, United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), has developed this information for the guidance of its employees, its contractors, and its cooperating Federal and State agencies, and is not responsible for the interpretation or use of this information by anyone except its own employees. The use of trade, firm, or corporation names in this document is for the information and convenience of the reader, and does not constitute an endorsement by the Department of any product or service to the exclusion of others that may be suitable.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) prohibits discrimination in all its programs and activities on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, and where applicable, sex, marital status, familial status, parental status, religion, sexual orientation, genetic information, political beliefs, reprisal, or because all or part of an individual’s income is derived from any public assistance program. (Not all prohibited bases apply to all programs.) Persons with disabilities who require alternative means for communication of program information (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) should contact USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TDD). To file a complaint of discrimination, write to USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TDD). USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

 
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