An upstanding staff including a laterally outwardly projecting footrest above its lower end. The staff is designed to be forced down into soft ground by foot pressure applied to the foot rest with the undersurface of the foot rest limiting downward penetration of the lower end of the staff into the ground. The lower end of the staff is formed to engage the root end of a seedling disposed horizontally on the ground prior to downward penetration of the staff into the ground, whereby the staff will carry the seedling root end down into the ground as it penetrates the latter. Also, the lower end of the staff includes a shrouded vertically reciprocal cutting member which may be downwardly projected below the lower end of the staff after penetration of the latter in the ground for cutting the root end of the seedling prior to upward withdrawal of the staff from the ground.