Yes, you should remove or at least pull back the top third of burlap and wire baskets when planting a balled-and-burlapped tree, because synthetic materials never rot and even natural burlap can girdle roots if left intact near the trunk.
Dropping a tree into the ground with its burlap and wire still wrapped tight is one of the most common planting mistakes. It sounds convenient, but that convenience can cost you the tree’s long-term health. Whether you should remove burlap when planting a tree depends on what type of burlap it is, how deep it sits, and where you live. Here’s exactly how to handle each material so your new tree thrives instead of struggles.
What Happens If You Leave Burlap on a Tree Root Ball?
If the burlap stays on the root ball in the planting hole, several problems develop. Synthetic burlap and plastic twine never decompose, so they strangle roots as the trunk expands — this is called root girdling and it can kill a tree years after planting. Treated natural burlap breaks down slowly in dry climates and may still choke roots. Even plain natural burlap, when left in thick folds below the soil, creates a barrier that roots struggle to push through.
Should You Remove Burlap When Planting a Tree? — Material by Material
No single answer fits every roll. The decision depends entirely on what the burlap is made of and how stable the root ball feels.
Synthetic Plastic Burlap
Remove all of it. Plastic burlap looks like woven fabric but does not rot, even after years in the ground. Cut it away as far down into the hole as you can reach and discard it. No exceptions.
Treated Natural Burlap
This material is coated with copper or preservatives to slow rot. In moist climates — roughly the Eastern US and any area getting more than 20 inches of annual precipitation — treated burlap may decompose along the sides of the root ball. But even there, the top must be peeled back completely. In dry climates like the West and Southwest, treated burlap may never break down, so remove it entirely.
Untreated Natural Burlap
A single layer of plain burlap will eventually decompose underground. The risk comes when the fabric is bunched, folded, or buried in thick layers below grade. Pull back and remove all loose burlap from the top of the root ball and do not bury it below the soil surface. If the ball is stable, you can leave a single layer on the lower sides and bottom.
Wire Baskets and Twine
Even if the basket is rustable, the wire will girdle buttress roots as they thicken. The standard guidance from university extension services: cut and remove the top one-third to one-half of the wire basket after the tree sits in the hole. Remove all twine from the trunk base entirely — do not bury it.
How Much Burlap Can You Safely Leave Versus What Must Come Off?
This table organizes the material types and exactly how much you must remove or can safely leave.
| Material Type | Must Remove | Can Remain |
|---|---|---|
| Synthetic plastic burlap | All — completely cut away and discard | None |
| Treated natural burlap (moist climate) | Top third to half — peel back fully | Lower sides may stay if ball is stable |
| Treated natural burlap (dry climate) | All — will not decompose | None |
| Untreated natural burlap (single layer) | Top third — pull back and cut away folds | Lower sides and bottom may stay |
| Wire basket | Top third to half — clip and roll down | Lower basket may stay for ball stability |
| Twine or string | All — cut from trunk and basket | None |
How to Plant a Balled-and-Burlapped Tree — Step by Step
Planting a B&B tree correctly takes about 20 minutes, plus backfilling. These steps come from Purdue nursery specialist Kyle Daniel and the USU Forestry extension service.
1. Dig the hole. Make it two to three times wider than the root ball and one to two inches shallower than the ball’s height. On heavy clay soils, keep the depth equal to the ball height. A common killer is planting too deep.
2. Position the tree. Lower the root ball into the hole. The top of the ball should sit level with the surrounding soil — not below it.
3. Cut trunk ties and top twine. Remove all synthetic twine or wire from around the trunk base. This is critical because even a single twist of twine left at the base will eventually girdle the tree.
4. Find the trunk flare. Scrape away soil from the top of the root ball until you see the trunk flare — the spot where the trunk widens near the roots. If the tree is a conifer with no obvious flare, remove soil until you see the topmost root.
5. Cut the basket and burlap. Clip the top one-third of the wire basket and roll it downward. Pull back and remove the burlap in the top one-third of the root ball. For synthetic burlap, cut away as far down as you can reach.
6. Backfill with native soil. Fill the hole with the same soil you dug out — no compost, no potting mix, no amendments. Well-meaning additives can discourage roots from spreading beyond the hole. Break up clumps and eliminate air pockets as you go.
7. Stake if needed. In windy sites, use two or three stakes with ties at about chest height. Leave slack so the trunk can sway — that movement builds strength.
8. Mulch and water. Apply two to three inches of organic mulch in a ring — keep it off the trunk, no volcano piles. Water deeply until the root ball is saturated.
When the hole is dug and the tree is positioned, you may also need to protect the trunk from sun scald or animals. For that step, check our roundup on the best burlap tree wraps for young trees.
What About a Loose or Cracked Root Ball?
Sometimes a root ball arrives with loose soil or a visible crack. In that case, no amount of material removal is worth destroying the root ball. Slit and peel the burlap back below the soil surface without yanking it free, or leave the bottom one-third to two-thirds of the natural burlap and wire in place to hold the ball together while you backfill. The goal is still to get the synthetic materials and thick folds out of the top portion.
Six Tree Planting Mistakes That Are Easy to Make and Hard to Fix
Even with the right burlap removal plan, a few common errors undo the work. Knowing them helps you spot a planting job going wrong before it’s sealed in soil:
- Planting the tree too deep. Top of root ball must sit level with the surrounding soil — no deeper, even in loose ground.
- Burying loose burlap under the soil. Cut away all loose material around the ball instead of folding it under.
- Leaving synthetic materials intact. Plastic burlap and synthetic twine do not rot and will eventually strangle the tree.
- Leaving the wire basket whole. An uncut basket will girdle buttress roots; the tree may topple years later in high winds.
- Allowing burlap to stay above grade. Exposed burlap wicks water away from the roots, drying out the root ball.
- Adding soil amendments to the backfill. Roots may refuse to spread from the amended soil into native dirt, caging the tree in its own planting hole.
Verdict: Which Burlap Do You Remove, and Which Can Stay?
A single table consolidates the final rule for each material, including what to do when the ball is unstable:
| Scenario | Action on Burlap | Action on Wire Basket |
|---|---|---|
| Synthetic burlap, stable ball | Remove completely | Remove top third |
| Treated natural burlap, moist climate | Remove top third; leave lower sides | Remove top third |
| Treated natural burlap, dry climate | Remove completely | Remove top third |
| Untreated natural burlap, stable ball | Remove top third and any folds | Remove top third |
| Any burlap, cracked or loose ball | Slit and peel below soil; leave bottom 1/3–2/3 | Leave bottom 1/3–2/3 intact for stability |
FAQs
Does burlap rot in the ground fast enough to be safe for roots?
Untreated natural burlap rots within one to two years in moist soil, which is usually fast enough. But thick folds and bunched layers rot far slower, creating a solid barrier that roots can’t penetrate. The risk is not the material itself but how it is arranged around the root ball.
Can you leave the wire basket on a tree when planting?
Never leave the wire basket intact — it will girdle the roots as the tree grows. Always cut and remove at least the top third to half of the basket after the tree is in the hole. The lower portion can stay if it helps hold a loose root ball together.
What happens if you bury burlap with a tree?
Burying burlap — especially thick or folded layers — creates an air gap and a wicking layer that dries out roots. It also forms a physical barrier that roots may not cross, effectively caging the root system in the planting hole. This stunt growth and can kill the tree over several seasons.
Should you remove burlap from a tree planted by a professional?
Yes, check by scraping away a bit of soil or mulch from the top of the root ball. If you see burlap or synthetic fabric still in place, ask the landscaper to remove it before you make the final payment. Many tree failures in the first few years trace back to burlap left on by the installer.
References & Sources
- Davey Blog. “Should Burlap or Wire Baskets Be Removed When Planting Trees?” Covers removal consensus and the top-third rule.
- University of Illinois Extension. “Tips for planting balled-burlapped trees.” Step-by-step procedure from the university’s long-term tree health guide.
- Utah State University (USU) Forestry. “Do I Remove Root Ball Packing Materials?” Clarifies synthetic versus natural burlap removal rules by climate.