How to Plant Your Tree

Make sure that you go about installing your new trees correctly to ensure their continued health as much as possible. Taking the time now to learn the proper steps of tree-planting will boost your chances for having a successfully established tree later. Make the most of the time and effort you invest, by following these instructions. 

Locate a clear, open site for the tree with generous rooting area and good drainage. 

Loosen and blend the soil in the entire planting area 6-10 inches deep. In the center, dig a hole at least as wide, but only as deep as the root ball. 

Loosen burlap from tree or remove the plastic container and place on solidly packed soil so that the root collar (where the tree’s main stem meets the roots) is slightly above the surrounding grade. 

Backfill the hole and lightly pack the soil into place around the tree. 

Spread a two-to-three-inch layer of mulch in the entire area, keeping a six to eight-inch distance from the tree trunk. 

Stake the tree so that it can flex in the wind. Attach stake to tree using discarded rubber inner tubes. Remove them after six months. Water thoroughly, but do not flood the hole. Water twice a week during dry periods. 

For further advice on tree planting, see your local American Association of Nurserymen (AAN) Member retail nursery/garden center or landscaping professional. 

Source: Global ReLeaf, American Forestry Association.