Tree Planting

If you are planning to plant a tree now is the time to do it, unless you want to wait for fall when the conditions are good as well. Newly planted trees need moderate temperatures and rainfall. In order to grow good, their roots need to be established before the heat of summer or the cold of winter. Just like with a regular plant, but even more important, you need to carefully plan where to plant your tree. Recognize sun and shade patterns and know the maximum height and width of the tree. Is it going to cast shade where you don’t want it, is it going to grow close to power lines, or will it block the view of something you might want to see? Trees can be bought in three different forms, balled and burlapped trees (B&B), container trees, and bare-rooted trees. When you purchase B&B or container trees you can wait a brief period of time before you plant them as long as you keep them watered and in the shade. Bare-rooted trees should be planted right away.

The common mistakes people make have to do with digging the hole. Digging the hole to deep will cut oxygen off from the roots and hinder growth. Digging the hole too narrow will also hinder root growth because the root system will not have sufficient room too expand. The hole should be no deeper than the soil in which it was originally grown. The width of the hole should be three times the size of the root ball (B&B), container, or root system of a bare root tree. If your soil is clay-like avoid glazing, which is when the sides and bottom of the hole become smooth and form a barrier. Water will not pass easily through a glazed hole and will pool; which you don’t want. Use a fork shaped tool to break the glaze by dragging it along the hole sides and bottom, but the bottom must be firm to prevent the tree from settling and sinking. Another common mistake is over compressing the back fill soil once you’ve planted the tree. Do not stomp it down with your feet, gently press with your hands.

A B&B should be lifted by the ball and not the trunk. Make sure the roots are not clumped together, if needed gently spread them apart with your hands or a tool. For a container tree the back-fill soil is the original soil from the container while for B&B use top soil and soil amendments. Fill the hole just to the height of the ball or the level of the container. Planting a bare-rooted tree requires you to make a cone of dirt in the middle of the hole and then flare the roots around the cone. Root promoting fertilizers are available to help growth. Put them in the hole but also in the soil around the planting hole. Mulch is also recommended for around your tree.