Trees must be planted every year. Starting in the fall, growers do their site preparation, getting the site ready to plant, using tillage or herbicides to remove competing grasses and weeds, contact nurseries and order their planting stock. In the spring during April, trees are either hand planted or with larger growers planted with machines. Hand planting involves using tree planting bars, shovels, or spades to plant the trees, making sure they are planted at the right depth and straight to produce a high quality tree. After planting, growers must apply a layer of organic mulch for weed control or use one of the registered herbicides to prevent weed and grass competition during the growing season.
Weed control is required every year on every tree until they are marketed.
During much of the spring and summer the trees must be monitored for insect and disease problems. In addition the growers face other biological obstacles including deer, gopher, ground squirrels, mice and voles. Birds cause deformed leaders by perching on them as they expand in the spring. Weather and climate also have impacts including damage from too little or too much precipitation, winds, ice and snow. Newly planted trees may require staking to correct leaning trees and correction of multiple leaders during their first three years.