Forrest Keeling Nursery

Walk-A-Way
System
More than two decades of field research
and countless years of experience
culminated in Forrest Keelings RPM
Root Production Method, a technique
Typical Container so unique, its patented! We use superior
Tree Planting Plan seed stock, air-root pruning, special
nutrition and soil, and proper timing
to produce the best plant stock on the
RPM tree: market today. The steps on the following
Container should be pages will help insure long-term success
10" in diameter by 8" deep
Root mass must hold maximum
for your planting.
of 90% of media and remain
intact when removed from
container
Minimum caliper at base1/2";
Minimum height 3'-5'
Tree wrap

Top of root ball, level with surface of berm

4'x4' weed mat with in pit, 10" diameter x 8" depth minimum.
staples at each corner. Remove container before planting.

Companion crop

Backfill with soil

and fertilize as
recommended.
 Forrest Keeling Nursery
Walk-A-Way System

Typical Plantings
1. Appropriate Seed Source for Container Trees
or Provenance (the original geographic source of seed) is of
paramount importance. Provenance dictates characteristics such as
Spacing Detail dormancy periods, fruiting, flowering and leafing out, and hardiness.
Seed source for container trees shall be within a 100-mile radius
Tree Placement of the planting site to insure plant is adapted to site climate and
Berm between
trees seeded flooding frequency. For wetland projects, seed source shall be from
to grass the floodplain of the present planting site. Upland seed source is not
acceptable.

2. Planting Site PreparationTrees shall be planted in

raised planting beds, or berms. Berms shall be constructed of
existing, indigenous soil materials, eight to 10 inches in height after
compaction. Compaction requirements shall be obtained by two
passes with a two-gang roller, which has a minimum combined
weight of 200 pounds per foot of ground contact length. The base
15'

of the berm shall have a minimum width of seven feet with a flat
crown approximately three feet in width. All depressions created
20-30'

during berm construction shall be refilled to meet the stated berm

specification.

20-30'
3. Weed Barrier MatPhotodegradable polypropylene,
4 x 4 x 16 mils, with water permeability of 10 gallons per minute
and weight of three ounces per square yard shall be installed around
Plant trees on flat-crowned berms, each tree and secured with nine, 1-gauge flat top staples, six inches
7' width minimum
in length. Mats must be installed in early spring, no later than May,
Plant companion grass over entire area
(on and between berms) after danger of ground frost has passed and potential pin heaving is
eliminated.

4. Companion CropA companion crop shall be seeded

on berms and between trees to reduce competition from woody
and herbaceous vegetation. The companion crop seed mix shall
Tree Plantings X-Section be a mixture of Red Top (Agrostis alba) 4 lbs/acre; and Kentucky
Bluegrass (Poa pratensis) 4 lbs/acre, OR, a solid planting of Red Top
(Agrostis alba) 6 lbs/acre. Seed shall be planted either,
a. as a fall planting between August 10 and September 20
b. as a dormant winter seeding during JanuaryFebruary, or
c. as a spring planting during AprilMay
Weed barrier
mat Mowing the cover crop in July
Berm
height following establishment to a Watering Newly
8-10 height of 810 inches may be
Companion grass inches Planted Landscape
required to reduce weed
competition. Daily for 7 to 10 days
Then every other day
for the next 2 weeks
Once per week when
rainfall is less than
3/4 to 1 inch

To download specifications, visit us at

 5. Fertilizer To insure good first year growth, a slow-
release fertilizer with analysis of 27-3-6 and including
IBDU (isobutylidene diurea) shall be applied after trees
are completely dormant during late fall or winter.
Fertilizer shall be Scotts Field Fertilizer 27-3-6 with IBDU,
or approved equal.
Minimum application rates shall be in relation to the
circumference of the subject tree drip zone. Increased
rates with slow-release fertilizer, as approved by fertilizer
manufacturer or Forrest Keeling representative, may
improve growth and performance without adverse
effect on trees. Minimum slow-release fertilizer
application rates are:

1st year 3 ft. circumference 15 grams, or 1 tbsp./tree

2nd year 4 ft. circumference 28 grams, or 1.5 tbsp./tree
3rd year 5 ft. circumference 45 grams, or 3 tbsp./tree
Plant RPM trees in raised berms, then
4th year 6 ft. circumference 90 grams, or 1/3 cup/tree place 4' x 4' weed mat around base of
tree, and affix a 24" tree guard around
A 50-lb. bag of fertilizer is adequate to meet the above the tree to prevent rodent damage.
prescription for 800, 1st year trees.

Weed Barrier Mat

6. Tree PlantingTrees shall be planted in fall (preferred)
between October 20 and December 10, or in spring between Typical Installation
March 1 and April 30.

7.
4' (typical)
Planting PitsPlant pits are only to be placed on tops
of berms and shall be approximately the same size as the plant
container, or slightly larger with vertical sides and a flat bottom.

8. Tree WrapWhite, reclaimed rigid PVC with white master

batch, low-density polyethylene, 24-30 inches in length, 6 mm.
4' (typical)

in thickness, and 2.3-gm./inch weight, shall be placed on each

tree stem to reduce harm from rabbits, rodents, deer and light
mechanical damage.

9. Plant StockVigorous plants produced by air root-pruned

method with well-branched root system and minimum size of 5/8
inch in caliper and 5 in average height. Plant containers shall be a
minimum size of 10-inches in diameter and eight-inches in depth Tie Down Overlap slit
containing a media with a minimum of 30% air space. Staple (9) 1/2" to 3/4"

10. Tree SpacingTo reduce competition between individual

trees, planting intervals shall be 30 35 apart with adjacent
rows staggered. Hard mast producing trees shall be planted 30
apart (approximately 49 trees per acre) to create a full canopy in
approximately 20 years.

www.forrestkeeling.com 800FKN2401
Forrest Keeling Nursery
Top Sellers
Hard Mast Producing Species
Wetland Sites
Swamp White Oak, Quercus bicolor
Bur Oak, Quercus macrocarpa
Pin Oak, Quercus palustris
Native Pecan, Carya illinoensis
Nuttall Oak, Quercus texana
Overcup Oak, Quercus lyrata
Swamp Chestnut Oak, Quercus michauxii
Kimberley Oak, Quercus X schuettei Kimberley
Willow Oak, Quercus phellos 88 Forrest Keeling Lane
P.O. Box 135
Upland Sites
Elsberry, MO 63343
Red Oak, Quercus rubra (800) 356-2401
White Oak, Quercus alba
info@fknursery.com (e-mail)
Shumard Oak, Quercus shumardii
Black Oak, Quercus velutina
Cherrybark Oak, Quercus pagodifolia
Shingle Oak, Quercus imbricaria

www.fknursery.com 800FKN2401