How to Plant a Tree

Planting a tree isn't quite as simple as just digging a hole and dropping a tree in. While that is the short version of the process, there are a few other things you should consider to be sure your new tree grows strong and healthy for a long time (and at the price of trees from a nursery--that's the objective). Here's how to go about planting a new tree.

Things You'll Need

• Shovel or spade
• Old blanket or tarpaulin
• Knife
• Water
• Mulch
• Organic fertilizer or compost (optional)

Instructions

1. Call your local utilities a couple of weeks before you put a shovel in the ground, and ask them to come out and mark their facilities. In many localities it's against the law to dig without verifying where underground utilities are located, and even if it's not, it just makes sense to check.

2. Consider the right time to plant your tree. Newly planted trees get their best start when they don't have to contend with extreme weather--either heat or cold. In most areas this usually means spring or fall, although in the South and Southwest where extreme cold isn't a factor, you can also usually plant during winter.

3. Determine where you want to plant your tree (away from overhanging wires) and lay an old tarp or blanket close by for the dirt you'll dig out of the hole. This makes it handy for backfilling once the tree is in the hole, and will also stop dirt and rocks from getting into your lawn.

4. Dig the hole two to three times as large around as the roots of your tree, but just a little less deep. A hole this size gives the roots space to reach out in uncompacted soil after you backfill the hole.

5. Ensure the root crown (the area where the roots end and the trunk begins) will be one to two inches above ground level by shaping the bottom of the hole like an upside down saucer. This shape also give the tree a solid resting place on undisturbed ground that won't sink when the tree is placed on top of it

6. Open the burlap bag, cut out the bottom and through the sides of a fiber pot or remove a plastic pot entirely, before you put your tree into the hole.

7. Position your tree with the "good" side (you'll have to decide which one that is) facing in your preferred direction. This could mean towards your home (so you can enjoy your new tree) or perhaps towards a road (to show off the tree to passersby).

8. Using the soil that originally came out of the hole, begin backfilling Straighten your tree by putting some extra soil under one side of the roots if the tree is leaning in the hole. Fill the bottom third of the hole, then tamp the soil down with your foot to eliminate any air pockets. Water well. Now, finish filling in the hole, tamp the soil down and water thoroughly once again.

9. Finish up by using leftover soil to create a berm (or small wall) around the circumference of the hole about two or three inches high. This will help hold water and direct it down towards the roots. Adding a layer of mulch around the base of your new tree will help keep the roots moist and provide lots of nutrients.

10. Water your new tree daily for the first week or so, and then gradually water it less often.

Tips & Warnings

• If you're planting in soil with a high clay content, use the tip of your spade or fork to loosen the sides of the hole. This will allow the roots room to reach out, since solid clay walls can seem as solid as concrete to stretching roots.

• Most experts say you shouldn't add any amendments to soil going back into the hole, but adding some organic fertilizer or compost can help give your new tree a good start.

• When you add the mulch around the base of your tree, leave a gap of two or three inches all around the trunk so you won't get mold or rot developing.

• When tamping down soil, don't pack it too hard or you could end up packing the soil so much the roots won't be able to grow.