Tree Planting The Right Way

Having a tree planting ceremony can be a great way to recognize an important event such as the birth of a child, a marriage or some other significant point in your life. When I got married a co-worker gave me a “marriage tree,” a little evergreen tree that still lives in a pot but was nonetheless “planted” to mark the historic occasion.

If you want to do a tree planting, whether to mark a special occasion or just because you’d like more trees on your property, it’s important to do it the right way for the optimum happiness of your tree.

Why would you want to plant trees around your home? Well, for one thing, they make it cheaper to cool in the summer because they provide shade. They can block the wind, provide a place to put a swing or hammock, clean the air around your home and increase your home’s value.

But that doesn’t mean you should go around planting any old tree that catches your fancy. Different trees serve different purposes and will grow better in different conditions. The most important thing is to know what you want out of the tree and make sure you are selecting a tree that is native to your area.

Things To Consider

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When you are thinking about tree planting, here are some of the things you should consider:

• Where do I want to plant my tree? Close to the house or in an open space?
• What other features are nearby? Is the area very dry or wet?
• How big do I want the tree to get? If you’re looking for shade, you’ll want a tall tree, but if you want to plant it close to the house, you’ll need something smaller that won’t interfere with your foundation.
• Do I want an evergreen or something that changes color (and loses leaves) in the fall?
• Do I want a fruit tree? A flowering tree?
• What is the ultimate purpose of this tree planting: a screen, shade, conservation, ornamentation, providing a habitat for wildlife?

Once you have answered all these questions, you can research trees on the Internet, in books and at your local nurseries to determine the best tree for your situation. Now it’s tree planting time!

There are three different ways you might purchase your tree: bare-root, balled and burlapped, or container grown. Container grown means just that—you buy it in a container and the roots are covered with dirt. Bare-root means the roots are exposed and there is no dirt involved, while balled and burlapped (or B&B) plants are usually grown at a nursery or tree farm, dug out of the ground and the roots wrapped in burlap.

Container grown plants usually transplant most successfully. Bare root plants are the smallest and also the most inexpensive. B&B trees can be very large and are often quite hardy because they have been given a chance to regenerate their roots in the burlap after they have been dug from the ground. Bare root trees need to be planted in the dormant season (usually early spring) for most success, while other tree planting can be done almost any time of year.

Before You Do Anything

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Before you do any tree planting, contact your utility companies and make sure there are no utilities buried when you plan to dig. Generally you’ll want to dig a hole about twice as wide and just a little shallower than the root ball of the tree you are planting, but if there are different instructions that come with your tree, follow those.

Rough up the sides of the hole so the roots can penetrate easily. If you have a container grown tree, remove it from the pot and gently loosen the root ball, cutting some of the roots if they are growing in circles around the outside of the soil ball. A B&B tree needs to have the burlap cut, but it does not have to be completely removed, since it is biodegradable. If there is any plastic around the burlap bag, remove it. Trim long roots and arrange them in the hole so they are growing down and out.

When you place the roots in the hole, the point where the tree trunk ends and the roots begin (known as the root ball) should be a half-inch to an inch above the ground. For bare root plants, just spread the roots around on a mound of soil in the bottom of your hole. Make sure you don’t plant the tree too deeply. Press down the soil gently as you refill the hole around the tree, and water well to remove air pockets and settle the soil around the roots.

When your tree planting is done, make a little trench around the tree at what is known as the drip line, which is basically the area around the tree that mirrors the size and shape of the top of the tree. The drip line can be quite large on an established tree. Water well in this area to help the roots get established.

You might also want to mulch around your tree. A three-foot circle of mulch is not uncommon and will help hold moisture in, which will make the tree much happier. If your tree is very small or the area you planted it in is very windy, you might want to stake the tree. Just like you stake your tomato plants, a stake for a tree helps it grow up big, strong and straight. The tree should be able to move in the wind but the stake should keep it from being knocked over.

Care For Your Tree

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Once your tree is established, it will require little care. For the first couple of years you will want to watch the water level; if the tree’s leaves are drooping, give it some extra water. Your new tree likely won’t need pruning for many years, unless you would like to trim away some low branches to give more clearance underneath. Use pruning shears for small limbs, and a pruning saw for larger limbs. If you aren’t sure how to prune properly, hire a professional.

Tree planting is a lot of fun and provides your yard, your family and your planet with a host of benefits. What are you waiting for?

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