Early Field Performance of Small-Sized Silver Birch and Scots Pine Container Seedlings at Different Planting Depths

Deep planting is recommended in Nordic countries only for normal-sized container seedlings planted on mounds. Its effects smaller-sized are poorly understood. We studied the of depth early field performance small-sized silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) seedlings. Silver (mean height 16 cm) were to depths 3, 6 8 cm spot mounds May 2016. 9 2, 5 inverted September 2018 2019. At end first growing season, deeper-planted tallest, as opposed However, differences between not apparent until second season both tree species. Deeper decreased damage which was observed birch. Based our findings, can be safely at 6–8 depths, if least 20% 50% their shoots, respectively, above ground.