Tree planting guide

Tree Planting Guide

How to select and plant a tree

Planting trees and shrubs can be a significant investment in money and time. So before you buy, you should do a little research. Proper tree selection can give you years of enjoyment, significantly increase property values, and help save energy. Here are some guidelines to consider before you buy:

1. Purpose for the tree. Trees and shrubs serve many landscape functions. Decide if you will use your tree mainly for beautification, for screening sight and sounds, for shade and energy conservation, or for a combination of these things.

2. Choose a tree that is appropriate for your area. A tree that is native or suitable to your area will be more tolerant of weather and soil conditions. Be careful that the trees and shrubs you select are winter hardy for your area.

3. Size of tree. When planting a small seedling, it is hard to imagine how big it will grow. Make sure that the tree you plant won't grow beyond the dimensions of your property. Many people make the mistake of planting trees too close to their house only to have to transplant or remove them.

4. Average life expectancy. Some trees can live for hundreds of years. Others are considered short lived and live for only 20 or 30 years. Short lived tree species should not necessarily be ruled out. They may have desirable characteristics like shape or tolerance of shade and would be useful in your landscape. Plus these trees could fill a void in a young landscape and be removed as other larger, longer living trees mature.

5. Ornamental value. Some species of trees and shrubs have beautiful displays of flowers or color for short periods in the fall or spring. Other ornamental trees and shrubs flower or bloom all summer. For interest in your landscape, you should work to have something blooming year round.

6. Insects and disease. Controlling insects and diseases on certain species of trees can be a problem. Check to see that the tree you purchase isn't particularly susceptible to disease or insects in your region.

7. Evergreen or deciduous. Evergreen trees will provide cover and shade year round. Deciduous trees will give you summer shade but allow the winter sun to shine through. This may be a matter of consideration for placement in your yard, or whether the trees you plant will block your neighbor’s sun or view.

Production methods

Now that you've carefully considered the trees and shrubs you want to buy, it's time to start looking at options. Home gardeners can choose from a wide variety of plant materials. Plants are grown by various methods and can be purchased one of three ways; as container grown, balled and burlapped (B&ampB), and bare root. Each of these harvesting and growing techniques has advantages and disadvantages and requires different planting specifications.

• Container grown. The advantage of using container grown plants is that the roots are all in the container, so the plant doesn't have as much transplant shock. Plus they can be planted year round and are much lighter to move than B&B plants. The main disadvantage is the possibility of having root bound plants with roots circling the container.

• Balled and burlapped. B&ampB saplings are older, larger trees dug from a commercial nursery. The trees are wrapped in burlap and usually kept in the nursery for a period of time giving the roots the opportunity to regenerate. The major advantage of B&ampB trees is that soil types can be matched when planted.

• Bare root. Bare root trees are usually extremely small trees. The advantage of planting bare root trees is mainly economical. They are less expensive to produce because of ease of harvesting, storing, and shipping. Frequently, bare root trees are offered by seed and nursery mail order catalogs. Bare roots trees should be planted while they are completely dormant.

Planting instructions

Depending on whether you want more established trees and shrubs in some areas and less mature plant material in other locations, you can buy plants grown from all three production methods.

Just make sure to carefully follow the planting instructions that come with each tree or shrub. A properly planted tree or shrub will grow faster, live longer and be more tolerant of adverse conditions than one planted incorrectly. Here are some guidelines to follow:

1. Digging the hole. Dig a hole twice as wide as and slightly shallower than the root ball. This puts the backfill soil where the new tree roots will grow and leaves a base of naturally firm soil for the root ball to rest on.

2. Roughen the sides and bottom of the hole. Smooth walls are like cement to tree root tips, so make sure to roughen the sides and bottom with a shovel.

3. For potted trees. Be gentle but firm when removing the container. Hit the bottom and sides of the container until the root ball is loosened. Make sure to protect the foliage by laying the tree on its side. If the roots are root bound or girdled, you should disturb the root mass before planting.

4. For B&B trees. Remove the string or wire than holds the burlap. It is unnecessary to completely remove the burlap. Gently separate circling roots on the root ball. Shorten exceptionally long tree roots and guide the shortened roots downward and outward.

5. Place the root ball in the hole. Leave the top of the root ball 1/2-inch to 1 inch above the surrounding soil, making sure not to cover it unless roots are exposed. Do not set trees too deep.

6. Add water. As you add soil to fill around the tree, lightly tamp it down, or add water to help settle the soil. Water the tree thoroughly after planting. A tree with a dry root ball cannot absorb water.

7. Mulch around the tree. Cover a 3-foot diameter area around the tree with mulch. Leave a small circle at the base of the trunk open.

When to plant

Trees can be planted almost any time of year as long as the ground is not frozen. Late summer or early fall is the optimum planting time in many areas for most trees. This gives the tree a chance to establish new roots before winter arrives and the ground freezes.