Planting season is in full swing, and many landowners are excited about getting their trees in the ground after all the preparation it takes to reach this step.
As we close out the 2025/2026 planting season, below are a few simple reminders to help ensure your planting efforts are successful. Proper seedling transportation and storage are critical to protecting seedling quality and maximizing survival in the field.
Transportation: Protecting Seedlings from Wind and Heat
When moving seedlings from the nursery to the planting location, make sure they are protected from both wind and sun exposure.
Transporting seedlings in an enclosed trailer is ideal. If an open trailer must be used, seedlings should be covered with a tarp — preferably a reflective tarp — to prevent them from heating up during transport.
Protecting seedlings from drying out due to wind and heat is critical to their success. Even short periods of exposure can cause unnecessary stress. If you need to stop along the way, always park in the shade whenever possible.
Image 1. Example of properly covering seedlings in an open trailer with a tarp to protect them from drying out in the wind during transport.
Storage On-Site: Keep Seedlings Cool and Protected
When seedlings arrive at the planting site, park in the shade if possible.
If seedlings are not being stored in an enclosed trailer, reflective tarps should again be used to prevent them from heating up prior to planting. Protecting seedlings from excessive sun and temperature swings during staging is just as important as protecting them during transport.
Image 2. These seedlings were left exposed in the sun. They should have been stored in the shade, inside an enclosed trailer, or covered with a reflective tarp to prevent overheating before planting.
Storage Off-Site: Overnight Best Practices
If seedlings must be kept overnight, refrigerated storage between 35–38°F is ideal.
If refrigerated storage is not available, store seedlings in a cool location such as a building, garage, shed, or basement. The goal is to keep seedlings out of the wind and direct sunlight while protecting them from both overheating and freezing.
When using non-refrigerated storage, temperatures should generally range between 38–50°F.
A successful planting season doesn’t end with site preparation. Protecting seedling quality during transportation and storage is one of the simplest — and most important — steps landowners can take to ensure strong survival and early growth. You can learn more about best practices for seedling care and handling by checking our our latest podcast episode and downloading our Seedling Care and Planting Guide.
If you have questions about seedling handling or planting best practices, reach out to your local Reforestation Advisor for guidance tailored to your site and planting conditions.