Apparatus and method for planting trees

An apparatus for planting seedlings comprising:

• a planting head for planting the seedlings;
• a seedling handling system;
• and
• a seedling chute system;
• wherein seedlings are transferred from the seedling handling system to the planting head, via the seedling chute system, for automated individual planting of the seedlings by the planting head;
• the planting head including a bladed pocket including a set of retractable blades and a body, wherein when the bladed pocket is in a closed position, the set of retractable blades and the body form a substantially continuous perimeter to hold a seedling and when the bladed pocket is in an open position, the set of retractable blades and the body retract relative to each other allowing the seedling to pass through the bladed pocket for automated individual planting;
• and
• a frame portion for mounting the planting head to a vehicle, the frame portion including a mounting apparatus and a set of supports, each of the set of supports connected at one end to the mounting apparatus via mounting pivot points and at an opposite end to the body via planting pivot points and the set of supports are configured such that the body and bladed pocket remain substantially vertical during operation and, when the bladed pocket is in the ground, the set of supports pivot at the mounting pivot points and planting pivot points to extend in a rearward direction to allow the bladed pocket to remain stationary while the vehicle continues to move forward.