Things You'll Need:
- A shovel, string, spray paint, mulch and a twelve inch wooden dowel.
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Step 1
Decide where to plant and keep in mind proximity of other trees, buildings, fences, power lines, water and sewer pipes and property lines. Keep enough space between plantings to avoid competition for sun and earth.
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Step 2
Mark the center of the planting with a stake. Tie a can of spray paint to the stake with a four feet string. Pull the string tight and walk around the planting spraying a circle as you go. Now you can see your work area.
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Step 3
Dig a trench following the circle. Dig another trench inside the first. Refill the trench and continue until the planting area is tilled to about eighteen inches.
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Step 4
Dig a hole in the center of the area and place the tree there being sure to keep it straight. Don't plant it deeper than it was in the pot. Refill with soft, broken soil and spray with a garden hose to settle loose soil. Build a dam around the planting area to hold water for irrigation.
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Step 5
Apply mulch three to four inches thick to trap moisture and protect the roots from extreme temperatures. Mulch also helps remind you not to get to close with the lawn mower or the string trimmer.
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Step 6
Next year dig and refill another trench around the perimeter of the planting to expand the bed and give the roots more loose soil to grow into.
Comments
grammastacie said
on 10/19/2009 Very informative! Planting correctly makes all the difference! 5* and recommend.
Mindee94 said
on 8/11/2009 Thanks! Never thought about digging a trench. My downfall is not planning ahead for growth. These are need to know tips for growing success.
billips said
on 5/28/2009 Excellent instructions for planting saplings - doing it properly is certainly a guarantee of good results - 5* - B.
starlet67 said
on 5/25/2009 Great tips for planting sapling trees!5*
gahazeleyes said
on 5/13/2009 Nice article, reminds me of back home.