Tuesday, June 28, 2005
How to Plant a Tree: Tips from My Dad
Question: "I'm considering planting a line of trees down one side of my property. Planting a tree is one of the things everyone should know, but I want to make sure I do it right. So my question is: how do you plant a tree properly?”
Thanks so much for your question. And for the answer, I'll turn to my dad, who is the tree planting expert. I gave him a call and he talked my ear off for this article. I knew that he would have plenty to talk about. But he did give some great advice, like I knew he would. Here's what he had to say.
This is a list of the tools and materials you will need to complete your project. A tape measure, the tree or shrub you are planting, a shovel or spade, a water source and nozzle, and plenty of bark or some other type of organic mulch.
The first step in the process is to properly site the tree. This means taking into consideration the expected diameter of your tree or shrub and placing your hole accordingly. This will ensure your tree or shrub has plenty of room to develop without interference.
The next step is to dig the hole. Measure the container that holds your tree or shrub and mark a hole on the ground to match. Make sure that you loosen the soil around the hole to give the roots a soft area to spread properly. Don't loosen the dirt at the bottom of the hole, as this could cause your tree to settle too deeply to grow.
Next, plant your tree or shrub. Remove it from its container, and prune any broken roots that you see. Place your tree in its hole and lay your shovel across the hole to check for depth. The root ball of the tree should touch the handle of the shovel. This will ensure that you have achieved the proper depth.
Finally, fill the hole with mulch or bark and water. Use your hand to loosely pack the mulch around the roots. Fill with water and then allow it to drain. This will ensure that you have properly dampened the planting area. Add another round of mulch and another good soaking.
Thanks so much for your question. And for the answer, I'll turn to my dad, who is the tree planting expert. I gave him a call and he talked my ear off for this article. I knew that he would have plenty to talk about. But he did give some great advice, like I knew he would. Here's what he had to say.
This is a list of the tools and materials you will need to complete your project. A tape measure, the tree or shrub you are planting, a shovel or spade, a water source and nozzle, and plenty of bark or some other type of organic mulch.
The first step in the process is to properly site the tree. This means taking into consideration the expected diameter of your tree or shrub and placing your hole accordingly. This will ensure your tree or shrub has plenty of room to develop without interference.
The next step is to dig the hole. Measure the container that holds your tree or shrub and mark a hole on the ground to match. Make sure that you loosen the soil around the hole to give the roots a soft area to spread properly. Don't loosen the dirt at the bottom of the hole, as this could cause your tree to settle too deeply to grow.
Next, plant your tree or shrub. Remove it from its container, and prune any broken roots that you see. Place your tree in its hole and lay your shovel across the hole to check for depth. The root ball of the tree should touch the handle of the shovel. This will ensure that you have achieved the proper depth.
Finally, fill the hole with mulch or bark and water. Use your hand to loosely pack the mulch around the roots. Fill with water and then allow it to drain. This will ensure that you have properly dampened the planting area. Add another round of mulch and another good soaking.
