Proper Tree Planting :

After selecting the right tree species for your needs and buying a good quality tree at the nursery the next step is to plant the tree properly.

1.    Perhaps the single most important aspect of proper tree planting is that the tree be planted at the same depth it was grown in the field or in the container.  Planting too deep can cause significant and long lasting problems for the tree.  The soil at the bottom of the hole should be firm so that the tree doesn't settle deeper after watering.  After the planting is complete and the tree has been watered several times it still should have the top of the rootball level with the soil surface.  There is no need to ever plant the graft of a tree below ground and this can cause several unwanted problems.

2.    It is very beneficial when planting a tree to have a wide hole for the rootball.  The general recommendation is to dig a hole 2 to 3 times wider than the rootball but no deeper.  For large trees with large rootballs digging a hole that wide may be impractical.  In this case a hole with enough space around the rootball so that it is easily backfilled is adequate and then the soil outside the hole can be loosened with a shovel.  The main benefit of a wide planting hole is that the roots penetrate loosened soil much more readily than in compacted soil.  With this in mind, the backfill soil should never be compacted, stomped or rammed with a shovel handle.  The best to use water to settle the backfill soil.

3.    Many trees are unnecessarily staked or tied up when planted.  Staking is not something that is needed for every tree planted.  The only trees that need to be staked or tied up are those which are actually tilting in the hole because of wind.  The main problems associated with staking trees is that they are left tied up too long and the bark can be damaged by the ties cutting into it.  Trees that must be staked should only be left staked for one season except in unusual circumstances.  The materials used to tie up the tree should be broad and not anything that could cut into the bark.  Allowing the tree to move in the wind strengthens the trunk and the roots.

4.    It is generally not recommended to fertilize trees the year they are planted.  Root stimulators may work if they are in direct contact to the roots but often do little or nothing to establish a tree.

5.    If trees are planted in a lawn it is always a good idea to have a circle free of grass around the base of the tree.  A light mulch 2-3 inches deep is always beneficial to trees both newly planted and well established.  

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