North Carolina Forest Service Tree Planting Pocket Guide 8th Edition - 2016

MACHINE PLANTING
Tractor-drawn planting machines offer production
advantages on relatively flat, well-prepared sites and
fields. Improved survival rates have been attributed to
the reduction in root competition and to consistent soil
packing.
If the machine is out of adjustment or the planter
is not competent, root deformation can be serious.
Frequently check planting performance to insure
proper planting, particularly when soil conditions
and moisture change on the site. The planting and
performance should be checked under actual site
conditions and the proper adjustments maintained.
Good success can be obtained with machine planting
of bareroot stock longleaf seedlings however great
care must be employed to prevent the common mistake
of deep planting these seedlings. Some hardwood
seedlings can be successfully machine planted but
many cannot.
Machine Planting
47