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Seedling Survival Supplies

To order Seedling Survival Supplies, visit the Tree Seedling Page, and place and order on the Order Form.

Tree Guards

A mesh tree guard around a young tree in a grassy area.

Tree guards are an 18 inch tall, 4 inch diameter, plastic mesh tube that is placed over your trees and held in place with a bamboo stake. The guards are made of photo degradable plastic which will break down in about 3 years when the trees are established and have outgrown them. Tree guards are effective in animal control. Small trees provide a succulent source of food to a variety of wild animals. Even domestic animals like to taste seedlings.

Tree Shades

A young plant growing from soil with a transparent shield protecting it.

Tree shades are an 8” x 12” plastic mesh screen that is slipped over and stapled around a metal wicket. The screen provides an 80% shade factor and photo degrades after 5 years. Place the tree shade next to your seedling on the south or southwest side; this will cast a shadow over your tree during the hottest time of day.
Colorado’s high altitude magnifies solar intensity and allows more U-V radiation to reach the ground. In natural forest conditions shade is provided by surrounding mature trees and objects such as downed logs. The lack of shade is primarily a concern with conifer seedlings of certain species such as pines, spruces, firs, and Douglas-fir. Even species that require direct sunlight will fare better if partially shaded during establishment.

Water Holding Polymer

Granular (for potted plants)

Our non-toxic, synthetic polymer looks like rock salt and can absorb up to 400 times its weight in water. When hydrated it looks like chopped Jell-O. Hydrated polymer is added to the fill dirt of each planting and the water is held available for the trees. The polymer will rehydrate with each rain fall or watering. The use of polymer allows longer intervals between watering (rain or irrigation) and reduces moisture stress if water is unavailable on a regular basis. We do not recommend that you rely solely on polymer to water trees. Supplemental moisture is still required.

A hand holding hydrated polymer crystals, with plants in the background.

Instructions for Use

  1. Sprinkle 1 ounce (2 heaping Tablespoons) of polymer into 1 gallon of water and stir thoroughly. Use 8 gallons of water for 1/2 lb. of polymer, 16 gallons of water for 1 lb. of polymer.
  2. Allow the polymer solution to hydrate for at least 40 minutes. The hydrated polymer soil additive should be the consistency of chopped jello.  Add additional polymer or water as needed.
  3. Mix polymer with backfill soil. Polymer should make up about 20% of the backfill. Polymer soil additive is most effective when placed in the bottom two-thirds of the planting hole.

Fine (for Bareroot Plants)

We also offer the same polymer in a fine grain texture that becomes honey-like when mixed with water. The mixture clings to the roots of bare root trees which prevents root drying during planting and reduces transplant shock.

Instructions for Use

A young plant with exposed roots is shown on the left; on the right, the roots are submerged in a white bucket of water.
  1. Sprinkle 1 ounce (2 heaping Tablespoons) of polymer into 1 gallon of water and stir thoroughly. Use 4 gallons of water for 1/4 lb. of polymer or 8 gallons of water for 1/2 lb. of polymer.
  2. Allow the polymer solution to hydrate for at least 20 minutes. The hydrated polymer slurry dip should be the consistency of thick honey that coats and clings to the tree roots. Add additional polymer or water as needed.
  3. Before placing bareroot seedling in the hole, dip bareroot seedlings in the slurry dip solution so the roots are completely covered.
  4. Backfill hole with soil.  
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