Plant and establish trees

This standard covers all the activities that may be required to plant and establish trees in forest, woodland or urban settings, together with the core requirements and responsibilities.

Ground preparation and planting methods will differ between forestry and woodland planting and urban planting.

Trees come in a range of sizes from small nursery transplants, to whips which are up to a meter in height, to semi mature and require different methods of planting. They can be plugs, containerised, bare root or root balled. Large container grown trees are very heavy and may require lifting equipment to assist with moving and planting.

Activities required to plant trees could include some or all of the following:
• clearing and preparing sites for planting trees
• planting trees
• providing aftercare to newly planted trees

You could be working to a given specification that defines the methods to be used but you will be expected to determine how to carry out these methods on site.

You will need to take account of any restrictions affecting the work e.g. designated sites, presence of listed structures, wildlife, non-native invasive or protected species etc.

You are required to avoid or minimise damage or disturbance to the surrounding area including trees, other vegetation, wildlife and habitats, or to any structures, fences, paths, signs, ditches/waterways or underground services, and to ensure that other site users are not put at risk by your work.

When working with equipment and machinery or chemicals you must be appropriately trained, and hold current certification where required, in line with the relevant legislation.

When planting in urban areas this may include holding relevant street works qualifications.

Your work must conform to all relevant legislation and codes of practice, industry standards and guidance when carrying out tree work.

Core requirements and responsibilities
1. obtain the relevant information to carry out the work activities in accordance with organisational procedures
2. maintain the health and safety of yourself and others at all times, in accordance with the relevant legislation and codes of practice
3. assess the risks associated with the site and the work to be carried out, before starting work and throughout the activity, checking and confirming the findings of any existing risk assessments
4. confirm that sufficient control measures are implemented and emergency planning and procedures relevant to the site have been established and recorded
5. check any statutory requirements that might be in place that may prohibit or place conditions on the work to be done and confirm that all the required permissions and licences have been obtained
6. select the safest working methods, considering the use of mechanical methods where this is safer, in accordance with the assessed risks and organisational procedures, and plan work accordingly
7. confirm that relevant training and certification is in place to undertake the work to be carried out and recognise your own competence limitations
8. use appropriate methods to maintain effective communication with other workers and anyone else involved in, or affected by, the work, in accordance with organisational procedures
9. obtain the materials required for the work in accordance with organisational procedures
10. confirm that the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) for the work to be carried out is worn at all times
11. select, prepare, use, maintain and store the tools and equipment required safely, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and manufacturer’s instructions
12. confirm that all equipment has been checked, tested where required, and is fit for purpose in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and manufacturer's instructions
13. maintain the safety and security of tools and equipment on site
14. handle, use and store hazardous substances in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and manufacturer’s instructions
15. maintain hygiene and biosecurity in accordance with the relevant legal requirements, industry guidance and organisational procedures
16. carry out the required work in accordance with the information provided and organisational procedures
17. remove all waste and surplus materials and deal with these in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures
18. minimise damage or disturbance to the site and surrounding area while carrying out the work, and confirm that the site is left in a safe and tidy condition
19. identify best practice approaches to sustainability that are appropriate for the work being carried out
20. deal effectively with issues that arise within the scope and limitations of your responsibilities and report issues that cannot be resolved, in accordance with organisational procedures
21. complete and store all the relevant documentation in accordance with legal and organisational requirements

Clear and prepare sites for planting trees
1. select suitable clearance and preparation methods to meet planting requirements, in accordance with the previous use of the site, assessed risks and the findings of the environmental assessment
2. implement the selected methods to clear and prepare the site for planting in line with the information provided, taking into account the weather and site conditions

Plant trees
1. check the species, condition and biosecurity of the planting stock, in line with planting requirements, before planting
2. handle and transport planting stock safely, including chemically treated trees, to minimise damage and optimise growth, using lifting equipment where required
3. check the planting site is prepared and in a suitable condition for planting
4. prepare planting stock ready for planting in accordance with planting requirements
5. position and plant trees using appropriate methods in line with tree size and planting requirements
6. plant trees to a sufficient depth and width to accommodate the tree and allow roots to be spread without cutting or bending.
7. where instructed, use compost, fertiliser or root dip in accordance with the planting requirements

Provide after-care to newly planted trees
1. where instructed, provide water and nutrients to newly planted trees in accordance with planting requirements
2. provide post-planting tree support and protection against damaging agents in line with the planting requirements and size of trees, avoiding damage to the newly planted trees and considering the environmental impact of the methods used
3. check that all the materials used are in good condition and match the requirements of the information provided, and report any defects or deficiencies to the relevant person
4. provide post-planting tree maintenance in line with the planting requirements, avoiding damage to the newly planted trees and to the surrounding environment

Core requirements and responsibilities
1. how to identify and access information relevant to the required work
2. how to identify hazards and assess the risks associated with the site and the work to be carried out, and the importance of site-specific risk assessment and control measures that are relevant to your area of work
3. the relevant health and safety procedures and Safe Systems of Work (SSoW)
4. the emergency planning and procedures relevant to the site, including the correct use of warning signs and barriers to inform and protect others while the work is carried out
5. current legislation and codes of practice, industry standards and guidance, organisational policies, procedures and protocols, business and professional ethics that are relevant to your area of work, and to which you must adhere
6. the legal, industry and organisational requirements for training and certification to undertake the work activities required and the importance of acknowledging your limitations and not undertaking work that is beyond your level of competence
7. why it is important to maintain effective communication with other workers and anyone else involved in, or affected by, the work and the methods of communication that should be used
8. how to obtain the materials required for the work and how to ensure materials are available where and when required
9. the tools, equipment and personal protective equipment (PPE) required for the work and how to select, prepare, use, carry out operator maintenance, and store these safely, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements, manufacturer’s instructions, and organisational procedures
10. the legal requirements for checking and testing equipment and why it is important to maintain all equipment to a high standard
11. technology used in your area of work and how to use it
12. the requirements for handling, using and storing hazardous substances in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and manufacturer’s instructions
13. the importance of hygiene and biosecurity measures and how to apply these
14. the correct methods of dealing with waste and surplus materials, in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and organisational procedures
15. the potential impact of the work on the site and surrounding area and how this can be minimised
16. your and the organisation’s responsibility for protecting the environment and working sustainably
17. the importance of checking that completed work meets requirements, in accordance with the information provided
18. the issues that can occur when planting trees, the actions to take and the organisational procedures for reporting issues that cannot be resolved
19. the scope and limitations of your competence, responsibilities and accountability
20. the legal and organisational requirements for the completion and storage of documentation

Clear and prepare sites for planting trees
1. the different methods of clearing and preparing sites for planting trees
2. the effect of previous uses of the site, soil type, climate, weather, ground conditions and previous treatments on the selection of clearance and preparation methods
3. how to deal with underground, surface or overhead utilities or other obstructions when clearing and preparing sites
4. the site drainage requirements
5. how to identify weeds, pests, diseases and unwanted vegetation and what action to take
6. the appropriate methods for sterilising sites and when this is required

Plant trees
1. the optimum conditions required for planting and the importance of timing
2. how to choose the right quality, compatibility, size and species of stock to meet the planting requirements
3. how to check the condition and bio-security of the planting stock to ensure it is fit for planting
4. how to handle, transport and store planting stock to prevent damage and maintain it in good condition, including the use of lifting equipment where required
5. how to handle chemically treated trees and the PPE required
6. how to prepare planting stock ready for planting
7. the mechanical and manual methods used to plant different sizes of trees in different settings and the additional requirements for planting heavy trees safely

Provide after-care to newly planted trees
1. the after-care requirements of the newly planted trees to ensure their successful establishment
2. how to provide support to the tree while it is establishing
3. damaging agents and how the tree can be protected against them
4. the methods of post-planting tree protection, when to use them and how they are applied
5. the methods of post-planting tree maintenance, when to use them and how they are applied

Methods of clearing and preparing sites include:
• waste collection and disposal
• stump removal
• brash removal (raking, baling, chipping, burning)
• unwanted vegetation control (chemical spraying, mechanical, manual)
• pest control
• screefing
• scarifying
• subsoiling
• ploughing
• mounding
• mulching
• drainage
• use of light and heavy plant equipment
• application of fertiliser
• sterilising

Methods of post-planting tree protection include:
• spraying or mulching around newly planted trees to control weeds
• tree guards, tubes, shelters
• fencing
• netting
• staking
• spray on deer deterrent
• “street furniture” in ornamental plantings

Methods of post-planting tree maintenance include:
• soil amelioration
• watering
• feeding
• maintenance of support systems
• repair/replacement of tree protection
• removal and correct disposal of tree protection when it is no longer serving a purpose

Causes of damage to trees:
• handling
• transport
• timing
• site conditions
• soil type
• exposure/aspect
• drying out
• wind

Damaging agents:
• insects
• deer
• voles
• rabbits/hares
• feral pigs
• grazing livestock
• weeds
• vandals
• weather

Bare root trees – have no soil or compost attached

Cell grown trees (Plugs) – trees are grown in a small but deep pot or cell to produce a deep root system. They come as a deep plug with compost ready for planting.

Diffuse pollution in Treework includes: mud and silt, small amounts of spilt fuel, oil or other contaminant which is released into a natural watercourse.

Information required to carry out work activities could include:
• drawings
• plans
• schedules
• specifications
• method statements
• Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs)
• manufacturer’s instructions
• customer requirements
• quality assurance requirements
• industry standards (e.g. British Standards)
• verbal or written instructions
• industry guidance (e.g. FISA)

Line grown - trees are grown very close together in lines which promotes tall straight growth.

Low density planting – trees are grown further apart to encourage bushy growth.

Nursery grown tree sizes: (girth at 1m)
• Feathered – 175-200 – 200-250
• Light Standard (LS) 6-8cm
• Standard (S) 8-10cm
• Select Standard (SS) 10-12cm
• Heavy Standard (HS) 12-14cm
• Extra Heavy Standard (EHS) 14-16cm
• Advanced Heavy Standard (AHS) 16-18cm
• Specimen Mature 18-20cm +

Organisational procedures refer to procedures set by the organisation you are employed by or the organisation that you are doing the work on behalf of (the client or customer)

Plugs – see cell grown

Root balled - tree is supplied along with the soil or compost it was grown in.

Safe System of Work (SSoW) – is a method of work that puts in place control measures arising from a risk assessment, in order to manage identified hazards, which are broken down into four elements: safe person; safe equipment; safe place; and safe practice.

Sites could include:
• greenfield
• farmland
• designated
• urban derelict
• reclaimed land
• existing
• forest/woodland re-stocking
• protected

Tree sizes for forestry:
• 1u1 - 1 year seedling undercut and grown in situ for a further year
• 1u2 - 1 year seedling undercut and grown in situ for a further 2 years
• 1+0 - 1 year seedling
• 1+1 - 1 year seedling transplanted for 1 year
• 1+2 - 1 year seedling transplanted for 2 years
• 2+2 - 2 year seedling transplanted for 2 years
• Sets - a pre-cut section of a willow which can be planted directly into the ground. Usually measures approximately 45cm length.

Whip - single stem young seedling normally 30 to 40cm in height