Question: What tips will help me get my tree home safely?

Answer: Never carry any tree by its trunk. Always lift it by its soil ball. If more than one person is required to lift the tree, cradle it in a large piece of burlap or some other soft sling. Cushion its trunk so it won’t rub against the back of a pickup or trailer or on the inside of your trunk lid. Above all, wrap the leaf canopy with an old sheet, discarded nursery shade fabric or some other means of sheltering it from the wind. Just one mile at 30 miles per hour can ruin a tree’s leaves. Plant it as soon as you can after you get it home, and be sure it’s watered heavily immediately after planting.