UsingWritten by Elina Tons, 08/04/24
Planting a tree can be a very rewarding experience! Whether you are planting in celebration of something, such as a new home or a new family member, or you just think your yard could use some sprucing up, you want to make sure it’s done right so you can enjoy it for years to come.
Step 1: Site Prep!
When contemplating your tree placement, you want to have the future in mind. Tree type, size, root system, and water consumption, should all be considered before purchasing your tree. For instance, you want to make sure that your tree is far enough from your house that if it fell or lost branches it wouldn’t cause issues. This means larger trees like Bald Cypress and Live Oaks should be at least 20 feet from your home. You also want to make sure that your initial digging or the future roots won’t disturb the plumbing or electrical lines underneath the house. For Dig Safety, you can call 811 and have a team sent out to find your lines for you!
Now that you have all the details worked out, your first mission is to clear your designated area of debris & grass (2 foot perimeter at least). Then, loosen & turn the soil; adding in soil conditioner and topsoil. You can fertilize now or you can wait until after planting.
Step 2: Dig A Hole!
Now it’s time to dig your hole! You can use the nursery pot to gauge how deep the hole should be. The top of the root ball should be 2″ ABOVE soil the level. Your shovel handle can be used to measure if the root ball is set properly by laying it across the top of your hole.
You want to make a hole wide enough so that loose, soft soil can surround the root ball (about 3 times the width of your root ball). If your root ball is about a foot in diameter (across), you can use the length of your shovel to measure out the span of your hole.
Step 3: Plant it!
At this point, you’ve planned, you’ve prepped, and you’ve toiled. Now it’s time for the exciting part, planting your tree! Before your root ball touches fresh soil, double check planting depth. Planting too deep can be detrimental to your tree so be 100% certain you’re happy with the depth.
Always make sure your tree is thoroughly watered BEFORE you plant. This applies to any plant that’s being removed from its nursery pot but goes double for trees. You can also partially flood the hole with water for better absorption. Trees need A LOT of water and are most at risk when being transplanted. So go ahead and give your tree a good drink to prep its roots for the big move!
Once you’ve settled on your tree’s placement in its new home, back fill the hole with fresh soil.
Step 4: Fertilize!
If you didn’t add fertilizer to the hole before planting your tree, now is a great time to sprinkle some on top! (However, if you’ve added fertilizer beforehand, you can skip this step.) You want to use a good control release fertilizer, we like Harrell’s Super Green but Nurticote works as well. You want to throw about 1 Tbsp per foot of height and repeat in 6 months. This will release as you water and bring the nutrients to the roots!
Step 5: Mulch Time!
After all that hard work you’re going to want to protect your little investment, that’s where mulch comes in! Using a good quality mulch like Redwood bark or Pine needle mulch is key! You also want to make sure not to go too thick or too close to the trunk. You will need about 3-4 inches of mulch spaced about 4 inches away from the trunk of the tree. This helps suppress weeds, retain water, and keeps the grass from growing up to the plant.
NEVER weed-eat around the trunk-if you nick the bark it can be FATAL!
If you really need to remove weeds, you should pull them by hand. You can also purchase tree trunk protectors that can keep it protected from pesky animals and over-egear gardeners.
Step 6: Water!!
As mentioned before, water is the most important thing for your tree! Your tree can survive without a great deal of things but water is not one of them, and young trees need it the most. To make sure you are thoroughly watering the plant in, you want to really soak that root ball. You can achieve this by turning your hose on to a slow bubble or purchasing a Soaker Bubbler attachment (conveniently sold at Perinos!) Let it run for about an hour to get your new tree properly hydrated and acclimated to its new spot. You also want to move it around to make sure the root ball is thoroughly soaked. Continue this process for 10-15 minutes, every day, for the next 3 weeks at least.
Depending on when you are planting your tree, (Fall and Spring are the most ideal seasons) will determine how often you continue to water. If you’re planting in Fall, you’ll want to keep watering until the temperature drops low enough that the soil will stay moist longer and eventually the tree goes dormant. Springtime is when the temperatures ramp up and your new tree might need more attention! No matter what season, make sure to check the plant daily and check the actual root ball. If it is dry, be sure to water! This is VERY IMPORTANT for the first year of planting; you do not want your new roots to suffer!
Step 7: Admire your Hard Work!
Now that you’ve worked so hard, you can sit back and admire your hard won efforts! That tree is no longer just a plant in your yard, but a symbol of what you can achieve, and with plenty of love and care, a whole host of possibilities! You deserve to enjoy it.
Happy Planting!!
