Tips for Planting Trees

Tips for Planting Trees

Need some tips for planting trees?

With the warmer weather many are looking to improve their landscape by planting a tree.  Garden centers have a large selection of trees in the spring. Remember when planting, young trees are delicate and can easily be influenced by changes in the weather, temperature, and precipitation.  Here are some tips for successfully planting a tree.

 

Selecting the Site:  When choosing a tree, it is important to consider the amount of shade versus sunlight, the moisture level of the soil, and how exposed or protected the site is.  Most of North Carolina is in Zone 7a and 7b.

When to Plant:  Early spring is the best time to plant most trees.  Trees have a greater chance of developing a root system during mild weather.  Fall is a good time but there is a greater risk of an early frost occurring before the roots have established.

Method of Planting:  Loosen the roots but leave the soil around the roots.  Dig the hole as deep as the plant container and two to three times wider.  Position the tree in the hole so that the top of the plant soil is right at or just above the soil line of the hole.  Prune any damaged stems.

Watering:  During the establishment phase it is important to provide adequate water.  If the soil is dry two to three inches below the surface, the tree needs to be watered thoroughly in early morning or late afternoon.  After the tree is established, it will only need water during long periods without rain.

Mulching:  After planting and watering, three to four inches of mulch should be added to conserve moisture and reduce extreme temperature fluctuations.  Don’t use too much and keep the mulch away from the base of the tree.

Planting a new tree can improve your landscape and help the environment.  Remember to follow these tips when planting your tree to ensure it will become a healthy mature tree.  Call Integrity Tree Care today to evaluate your landscape.

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