ISA Certified Arborist Practice Exam

What is the first step in the procedure for planting a tree?

1. Backfill with soil

2. Water the tree

3. Dig a hole

4. Remove the tree from the pot

The correct answer is: Dig a hole

The first step in the procedure for planting a tree involves digging a hole. This stage is crucial as it prepares the site for the tree, ensuring that the hole is appropriately sized to accommodate the root system without causing damage. The depth and width of the hole should be roughly two to three times the width of the root ball and as deep as the root ball itself, allowing the tree to be set at the proper height and to promote healthy root growth. If you were to consider the subsequent steps, while they are also important, they follow the digging phase. For instance, removing the tree from the pot is necessary for planting but only occurs after the hole is ready. Similarly, backfilling with soil and watering the tree are tasks that come after properly positioning the tree in the hole. Each step is inherently dependent on successfully completing the one before it, emphasizing the foundational nature of digging the hole in the planting process.