it’s planted, it won’t live for long if the trunk flare is underground.
Dig the planting hole only as deep as the root ball.
Do not disturb the soil under the rootball; it doesn’t need to be loosened for tree roots to penetrate it. Leaving it alone will provide a solid foundation for the tree so that, over time, it doesn’t sink lower into the ground.
If in doubt about depth, it’s better to dig the hole to shallow than too deep.
Dig the hole about 2 to 3 times wider than the container or root ball. The roots need to be able to easily spread out into the surrounding soil to help stabilize the tree and take up water and nutrients.
This is not the time to take shortcuts. Digging a wide hole can be strenuous work but if the planting hole is too small, the roots can start growing around in circles instead of spreading out. Girdling like this eventually kills the tree.
Remove Any Extras
You may have heard that it’s okay to leave burlap wrapped around the root ball when you plant it but we recommend that you remove any burlap, wire basket and/or nylon rope before planting. While natural burlap may disintegrate over time, the wire basket and nylon rope definitely won’t. Instead, they’ll prevent the roots from spreading out, leading to an unstable and poorly developed tree.
If the tree is in a container, gently remove the container while disturbing the rootball as little as possible. Prune any roots that may be circling around the rootball.
Keep It Simple
Don’t add topsoil or potting mix when you fill the planting hole. There’s no need to provide the tree with “good dirt”; just use whatever came out of the hole when you dug it.
Tamp the soil firmly around the tree to eliminate air pockets but don’t stomp on the soil or try to compact it.
Be sure to water your tree in well right after planting and then water every 7 to 10 days over the first two years during June through October. A slow 2-hour soaking with a garden hose running at a slow trickle works well and provides the deep watering your new tree needs. To help keep water near the tree when you irrigate, build a small wall of soil around the planting hole.
Mulch Around the Tree
Spread a 2-3″ layer of mulch in a 3-4 foot circle around the tree to suppress weeds, retain moisture and prevent damage to the tree from mowers and string trimmers. Keep the mulch pulled away from the trunk and do not create a “mulch volcano”!
And, generally speaking, that’s it. Although you may see many newly-planted trees tied to stakes, that’s usually not needed if the tree has been properly planted. You can learn more about tree staking here >>
As with anything that’s been newly planted, keep an eye on your new tree for insect or disease problems (which are more common when the plant is stressed, like when it’s been transplanted) and make sure the soil isn’t settling or the roots popping up.
And, of course, if you have any questions give us a call. We’re always happy to discuss options for what to plant, where to plant it and if you’d like, we’ll even plant it for you!
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