Aboveground Compliance

Inspect each tree on the plot for aboveground compliance. A poorly planted tree may have more than one violation; only list the most severe violation. When a tree has been planted, the spot is considered to be plantable and the tree must be planted properly, even if the inspector determines that a tree should not have been planted there.

• Check for planting depth—The tree should not be planted too deep or too shallow. After the planting hole has been filled, packed, and leveled, the soil should be even with or up to 1 inch above the root collar. Needles should not be buried and the roots should not be at or near the surface.

• Soil firmness—Soil throughout the planting hole should be packed sufficiently to eliminate air pockets and excessive settling during the next rain. Loose soil is a violation. An inspector should not be able to uproot the seedling by gently tugging it upward. Use care when tugging on the tree because tugging in some soil types can damage the tree.
  
  
• Spot selection—The tree should be planted in mineral soil. Trees should not be planted in concentrations of bark, debris, duff, ashes, mounds of loose soil, unsuitable material as specified in the contract, a depression that could collect water or erode, or near debris that could roll on the tree. Planting trees in such situations is a contract violation. The contract is also violated if the contractor leaves a depression beside the seedling by “heeling in” the seedling.

• Shade protection—Shade can be critical for tree survival. All trees must be planted to the contract specifications. Shade clauses will vary by unit and can be very specific. Requirements will determine whether trees can be planted if no shade is available, whether movable shade (such as logs) can be used, whether stationary shade is mandatory, and so forth.
  
  
• Scalping—Measure the size of the scalp to ensure that it meets the specifications stated in the contract. The tree should be near the center of the scalp.
  
  
• Spacing—Measure the distance between trees that are planted closely together. A tree planted closer than the minimum distance to another planted tree or to an acceptable existing tree is a contract violation.
  
  
• Stem position—The stem should be oriented between vertical and perpendicular to the slope, or as specified by the contract. Hoe planting on flat ground commonly leads to poor stem position if the hole is opened improperly.
  
  
• Species—When several species are being planted, and the contract specifies where certain species should be planted (for instance, plant spruce near the stream bottoms), you should check for compliance.
  
  
• Cull trees—Check the quality of the planted tree. If the contract prohibits the contractor from planting trees that do not meet the size specification, planting a substandard tree is a contract violation.
  
  
• Tree care—If a tree has been damaged, and the damage appears to have occurred during planting, notify the foreman. On some contracts, damaging trees during planting (leaving cull trees) will be considered a violation. Regardless of the cull tree provisions of the contract, the contractor should not be allowed to continue damaging trees during planting.