The Right Way to Plant a Tree

Do it yourself projects aren't for everyone. But when it comes to landscaping, most homeowners feel confident enough to give it a shot.

Rightly so, because with the right knowledge, you can plant a beautiful yard and save thousands over hiring a professional.

A huge part of creating a beautiful yard is planting trees. Decorative foliage can beautify your yard while increasing the value of your home thousands of dollars.

The question most people ask is "What's the big deal. You dig a hole, drop in the tree and cover up the roots. Right?" Well yes, partially. But many other factors contribute to the long term success of your new plant. Factors like transplant shock, proper planting depth and proper watering can affect your foliage immensely.

Digging a Hole for Your Tree
Trees are available in various stages of growth-from seedlings to mature specimens. Whatever the maturity level of your tree, the general rule of thumb for the diameter of a planting hole is three times the size of the root ball. Accordingly, if your plant comes in a 12" diameter pot, dig your hole 36" across.
The depth of your hole should be deep enough to accommodate the entire root ball. So that when the tree is planted the top of the root ball is level with the existing soil.

Planting Your Tree
When planting your tree, a few simple steps will ensure proper growth and acclimation to its new environment.

Before planting, remove the tree from its pot, making sure to retain as much of the surrounding soil as possible. Lay the tree on its side and pour a quality vitamin treatment over the root ball. This will help reduce transplant shock and ensure the roots develop quickly in the new soil.

If your tree's roots are wrapped in burlap material, do not remove it. The burlap will help the existing soil adhere to the roots during the planting process. Eventually the roots will grow through the burlap and the material will disentigrate.

Backfilling
When your new tree is placed in the hole, it's time to backfill. Again, to aid in the transplant process, purchase a quality potting soil to promote healthy root growth. Fill in the hole with a mixture of approximately one half potting soil and one half native soil. Then pack the mixture into the hole firmly. With the soil in place, build a small dam around the circumference of the hole, mounding the dirt a few inches. This will help retain moisture and channel water to the plant roots.

Support Your New Tree
Once your tree is planted, you need to make sure it stays level and has enough support to prevent wind damage while the root system is becoming established. The easiest way to do this is by placing two wood or metal stakes on opposite sides of the tree, angling the stakes away from the trunk.

Drive each stake into the ground and attach one end of a small rope to each. Next, slip a length of flexible tubing over the string to prevent it from digging into the tree trunk. Now, simply wrap the string around the tree, tubing around the trunk, and tie off the loose end. Now your tree will have plenty of support as it establishes a strong and healthy root system.

Care After Planting
Once your tree is in the ground there are a few simple steps you can take to make sure it stays healthy and strong for years to come.

Mulch - Mulching the area around your tree will provide nutrients and help the soil retain water. Proper mulching depth is approximately 2".

Water - Obviously water is essential to the growth of any tree. How much is another mater. Different species require different amounts of water. Consult the nursery where you purchase your tree to determine the right amount of water for your particular breed.

Fertilizer - A quality fertilizer will not only help your tree establish a healthy root system, it will also promote faster growth. Fertilizers come in a variety of forms from pellets to fertilizer stakes. Again, consult the nursery where you purchase your tree to determine the right fertilizer for your tree.