Proper Steps To Plant A Tree!

AAA TREE SERVICE

631-993-1039 / 516-659-4716

www.AAATreeServiceNY.com

Planting a tree may not be as simple as you think! The process is a little more complex than tossing some dirt in a hold and throwing a tree down into it. 

If you’re considering planting a tree, here are the proper steps to do so:

Select the right time of year for planting the tree. Do not plant in late spring or summer because the heat will stress the plant and may cause it to die. The best time of year to plant a tree is in the fall or early spring. 

Check to see if there are any local requirements concerning digging deep holes, especially if you need to dig near telephone and other cables.

Choose a suitable tree for the region, climate, and space.

Prepare the hole. Take a suitable shovel and dig a hole that is 2-3 times the width of the root ball, just enough so it will fit. This lets the roots ease in more easily and begin to grow outwards into the soil. It also allows you to cut off the wire root basket if there is one.

Prepare the tree for planting. The process is slightly different for a small tree and a large tree. If it is a small tree, then you can turn it upside down gently to get it out of the pot. You could also cut some plastic containers to remove them. If the tree is larger one and has a net or a hessian or rope bag, you might need to use large scissors or a sharp knife to cut through the packaging. Avoid handling the tree with the burlap off. Put it in the hole, then cut as much of the wire basket and burlap as you can from around it.

Place the tree down into the hole gently. Be sure the hole isn't too deep or too shallow. The ground level of the plant in the pot should match up with the ground level after you fill the hole in. Do not bury over the crown or leave any roots exposed.

Use some compost or composted manure if needed. If the soil that you currently have is not rich, has clay-like qualities or if it has the consistency of dust or sand, the addition of manure or compost will give the tree a great start in life.

Resist the temptation to use a commercial fertilizer. A great benefit to new trees, however, is an organic mixture that includes micorrhizae, beneficial fungi that enhance a tree's uptake of soil nutrients.

Give fruit and nut trees extra attention!

Water the newly planted tree. Allow settling, backfill the remaining soil, and water again. This will eliminate air pockets. Water one gallon (3.7 liters) for every six inches (15 cm) of tree height.

Mulch,mulch, mulch! Cover the planting hole with 1-3 inches (2.5 cm - 7.6 cm) of shredded hardwood or leaf mulch. Keep the mulch 2-3" away from the trunk or the trunk will rot. Don't over-mulch the tree, either. A few inches are enough to keep water in and most weeds out. Mulch a circle out to the drip line, about the same width as the tree's leaves.

Stake the tree if necessary, for about the first year. Make sure that whatever stakes you use are tied loosely to the trunk and do not dig into the bark or tighten around the tree. Remove the stakes once the roots have a chance to become established, after about the first year. Staking protects the tree against blowing over in the wind, and it can also help to remind people moving around the tree not to run into it.

Keep watering your tree for the first few years as it gets established. Depending on the climate and your area, it will need weekly watering until the roots are established. 

Enjoy it!

Have you ever planted a tree? If so, let us know on AAA Tree Services Facebook page linked here!