Two freshly planted trees from our nursery, including a mulch ring to assist with moisture control
Plant a Tree!
Heartwood encourages all Madison property owners to plant trees to ensure our urban canopy continues to thrive for generations to come. Mature urban forests that look and feel great today must be replenished by planting. The dominance of lawns in the urban environment prevents self-seeding by the existing trees, so planting is the only way to ensure a sustained urban forest. Even the well-known Oak stands in places like Arbor Hills or Nakoma need new plantings to sustain the long-term canopy.
Considerations for Successful Tree Planting
As a tree care company committed to urban green space enhancement, we prioritize practical tree planting practices. Our certified arborists carefully choose tree species based on site-specific conditions, including soil composition, sunlight exposure, and climate, to ensure the long-term health of the planted trees. We focus on proper planting depth, root ball preparation, and mulching techniques to establish a robust foundation.
Post-planting, our strategies include customized pruning techniques for optimal development. We adhere to industry best practices and use our expertise in arboriculture to contribute to the lasting beauty and ecological benefits of trees in our communities.
A bare root tree planting just in front of two “B&B” plantings. Note how extensive the bare root roots are, even though the B&B plantings are many times larger in mass.
B&B vs Bare Root Trees
Heartwood plants both balled and burlapped (B&B) trees and bare root trees. We prefer planting bare root trees in spring because of the more affordable price, reduced transportation costs, and ease of planting. Bare root can require some extra care from us during transporting and planting because the roots are exposed, but over the long run we feel the extra effort is worth it.
Process for online sales:
Client selects tree from our store.
We receive the order and schedule planting and diggers hotline locate. We strive to get all winter purchased trees planted before leaves emerge for minimal stress to the tree.
We visit your property, plant the tree, and install a mulch ring.
Advantages of Bare Root Plantings
From the beginning, bare root plantings are a great value because bare root trees have more intact and/or larger root systems, as the digging process in the nursery allows for more of the roots to stay intact. Often we have to dig extra wide holes in order to accommodate two foot-long roots on some of the bigger bare root trees!
The second advantage of bare root trees is the ability to actually see the roots. This visual opportunity allows use to correct any root structure issues and also guarantees that we plant the tree at the right height. Finally, during the digging process some roots are broken or torn, if this does happen we can prune the root ends, providing a clean cut for new smaller roots to sprout from. None of these advantages are possible with B&B trees.
Read more about the pro and cons of bare root vs. B&B in our blog post on planting approaches, which includes illustrations of common problems with B&B plantings.
We Guarantee Your New Tree
Garrett assisting with oak tree planting at the Leopold Nature Center
Heartwood guarantees all its tree stock for one year against disease and defect. We plant healthy trees ready to thrive; if for some reason you get a dud and it dies in the first calendar year, we will replace it. See our guidelines for new tree care to set your tree up for success.
If the client fails to water or properly care for the tree, the guarantee is void. We also do not guarantee against pest or animal damage. We recommend all trees have some sort of rabbit protection for the first several years of life. Hardware cloth is our preferred deterrent against rabbits; you can find at most neighborhood hardware stores.