Ideally spraying will be done a day before gentle rains begin, or after soaking rains. Plant into prewetted, augered holes. On large denuded, ice plant or mustard dominated sites inoculation with mycorrhizal fungi may be desirable. Add a ring of large bark mulch or weed mat for each plant if possible. Flat sites may be machine planted from a transplanter.
Plant protection is needed on most sites.
Rabbits, pocket gophers, and deer may cause losses without protection. Most areas will require plant protection of treeshelters, cages or fences. In areas with extensive pocket gopher colonies fence may have to be set into the ground to 8 - 12 inches. Weed control on a continuing basis may be needed if fumigation or solarization could not be done. Competition from fast growing exotic weeds may not kill native shrubs but it does reduce growth.