Tree Planting Guide

Tree Care

• Trees are especially vulnerable to dehydration during transport and before they are planted. Planting your trees within 24 hours after you purchase them can significantly reduce transplant shock and improve their overall health. If you are transporting the trees yourself, covering them with a tarp will protect them from the dehydrating effects of direct sunlight and wind. After you get your new trees to the planting site, the best place to store them is a cool, shaded area. Moistening the roots and foliage of your trees with water is a good idea if you need to store them for more than a few hours before planting.

Site Preparation

• An ideal planting hole for a tree has just enough depth to accommodate the root ball but is at least three times the width of the tree's root system. Since the roots of the tree will grow out more than down, you can save labor by making a saucer-shaped hole with sides that gradually slope upward from the center of the hole towards the level of the undisturbed soil around it. Keep the soil that you remove from the hole nearby so that you can use it to fill in around the roots of your trees. You can remove any rocks, roots and debris from the dirt as you dig. You'll also want to make sure that the site corresponds as much as possible to the tree's preference for full sun, partial shade or shady conditions.

Planting Preparations

• The best time to remove plastic containers from the root ball of your tree is before you put the tree in its planting hole. The easiest way to remove a container is to put the tree on its side next to the hole and pull or cut the container off. If you find roots growing in a circle beneath the container, shave the outer top inch of the root ball with a pruning saw. Be sure to sterilize the saw before cutting to prevent the spread of disease. If your tree is wrapped in burlap, you can put the tree in the hole before you remove the burlap. Use a sharp knife to remove the burlap and wrapping materials from the sides of the root ball. Removing packing materials from the bottom of the root ball is unnecessary, as the roots will grow around them.

Planting Time

• Young trees grow best when they are planted using only the native soil around them. Adding soil amendments to the planting hole can prevent water from draining properly and flood the roots of your trees. One common mistake that can severely impair the health of a young tree is planting it too deeply. The right depth for planting a tree leaves its root collar exposed just above the soil. The root collar is a slight bulge just above the roots where the trunk flares down and out before merging into the roots. You can use the section of the trunk that extends out of the root collar to orient your tree straight up and down. Once the tree is in place, you can begin spreading dirt over the hole.

Tree Care

• Lightly watering the soil after you spread the first and second halves of the soil provides a moist growing environment and helps settle the soil. Your tree will need extra care until it can spread its roots into the soil around it. A good rule of thumb is to add 1 inch of water a week over the planting area for the first three years. Adding a layer of mulch 3 to 4 inches deep over the planting hole will help retain moisture in the root zone of your new tree and reduce competition from grass. Don't pack the mulch right up against the trunk, though; leave a gap to prevent too much moisture from accumulating around the base of the trunk.