How to Plant Saplings

Planting trees is a great way to beautify your home and support the environment. Watch your new tree grow up to be beautiful, healthy and strong by getting that little sapling off to a good start.

Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need

• Bucket
• Shovel
• Gardening gloves
• Mulch

1. Fill a bucket with room temperature water. Soak the roots of the sapling in the bucket of water for up to 6 hours prior to planting. It's very important to make sure that the roots of the sapling remain moist until you are ready to plant them.

2. Find a protected spot to plant the sapling. Look for a spot that offers the little tree both sunlight and shade while shielding it from heavy winds and animals looking for a snack. Give the sapling the best chance at growing by planting it in a garden, or other area with worked-up soil, for the first year or two.

3. Use a shovel to dig a hole for the sapling. Dig the hole just as deep as the sapling's roots are long. If you're planting multiple sapling in the same area make sure to dig the holes at least 2 1/2 feet from one another.

4. Place the sapling in the hole, making sure that the closest root to the top is covered with at least 1 inch of soil. The sapling should fit comfortably in the hole.

5. Fill the holes partially, making sure that the lower roots are surrounded with firmly packed soil. Shovel the remaining soil into the holes and pack it firmly, but not too tight.

6. Surround the sapling with a 2 1/2-foot diameter of mulch at least 2 inches deep. Give the sapling a little room to breathe by keeping the mulch one to two inches away from its trunk.

7. Give the sapling plenty to drink, especially during dry weather. Water the sapling generously every week or so for the first year. If you live in an unusually hot or dry climate, check on the sapling more often to make sure it has plenty of moisture.

Tips & Warnings

• Use chicken wire and support posts to fence around the saplings to keep it safe from animals.

• Do not fertilize the sapling for the first year. Fertilization can damage the sapling by casing "root burn."

Resources

• Trees For the Future