Average time requirements for hand planting are listed in Table 4. Correct and incorrect depths. The planting machine is either attached to a tractor by a standard three-point hitch or is pulled behind a tractor on wheels attached to the planting machine. Some planters accommodate two people. With most machines, the roots of the seedlings are placed by hand in the hollow created by the trencher and are held until the packing wheels compress the soil around the roots.
Some machines have clips arranged on a rotating arm or chain.
Seedlings are placed in the clips, and the trees are moved into position in the furrow and held by the clips until the packing wheels close the trench. Such machines do not require the planter to bend down each time a tree is planted. Planting depth and spacing between trees can be controlled closely with this type of machine. Those without clips can be equipped with a spacing wheel that makes a sound when a tree is to be planted. Upper photo, planter where seedlings and placed by hand in the planting slit.