Success when planting trees depends upon following sound installation practices. Tips and advice found in this article will help novice and experienced gardeners, and their trees, get off to a great start.
Initial Considerations | General Site Preparation | Container Grown Trees | Balled & Burlapped Trees | Bare Root Trees | Care | More Information
Initial Considerations
Before you pick up a shovel, review your game plan and this checklist one more time:
- Have you chosen trees that conform to all spatial constraints imposed by the site (overhead power and communication lines, sidewalks and streets, buried utilities, etc.)?
- Have you chosen trees capable of thriving in the face of environmental challenges (poor soil, alkaline soil conditions, occasional drought, etc.)?
- Did you purchase trees from a reputable nursery/garden center?
- Have you made plans to safely transport trees to the planting site?
General Site Preparation
Preparing the Planting Hole
Ideally, the planting hole should be two to three times the width of the rootball, container, or root mass (the poorer the soil, the wider the hole), with sides that slope towards the base of the hole. Wide planting holes allow for a beneficial zone of well-aerated and well-drained soil that tree roots will readily exploit during establishment. In addition, sloped hole sides help direct growing root tips upward to the surface rather than circling in the hole.
Hole depth should allow the tree to be positioned so that the trunk flare is level with or positioned slightly higher than the surrounding grade. It is not necessarily the height of the container. Never “over dig” the hole. In other words, don’t dig the hole deeper than the height of the rootball or root mass because the tree may settle deeper into the hole than intended. Planting too deep, either intentionally or unintentionally, can cause trees to die within months of installation or lead to other chronic problems (most notably stem girdling roots) that may significantly shorten the life of a young tree.
Do Not Amend the Backfill Soil
Contrary to conventional wisdom, soil removed from the planting hole is the most appropriate backfill material. Soil amendments like peat moss, topsoil, and compost mixed with the “native” soil and used as backfill have not proven beneficial for tree establishment. Working with soil excavated from the hole can present challenges, but in the final analysis, it is the best backfill.
Planting Container-grown Trees
Find That Trunk Flare
To determine proper hole depth, examine the root mass (root system inside the container) to locate the trunk flare. Occasionally, the trunk flare is buried by potting soil during the spring potting operation. Remember, when the root mass is placed in a properly prepared hole, the trunk flare will be at the soil surface or grade. And of course, always remove containers before lowering the root mass into the hole.
Remove/Disrupt Circling Roots
Trees grown in containers often become pot-bound or root-bound (roots dense and circling). If not corrected at planting time, this condition can restrict root growth and reduce the vigor of newly planted trees. Removing/disrupting circling roots will also reduce or eliminate the formation of stem girdling roots later in the life of the tree. A simple way to remove circling roots involves “shaving” the root mass perimeter with a handheld pruning saw.
Backfill and Water
As previously mentioned, soil removed from the hole is the preferred backfill. Firm the backfill soil with your hands or by gently walking on it.
Finally, thorough watering is essential, making sure water is delivered directly to the root mass. Until roots grow out and into the backfill soil, the root mass can and will dry out quickly. Multiple waterings/week may be necessary in those first few months after installation.
Planting Balled & Burlapped Trees
Balled & burlapped trees are large and heavy and must be handled carefully to prevent damage to the trunk and roots inside the rootball. Trees should always be handled/lifted by the rootball and not by the stem or trunk.
What else? Find the Trunk Flare
To determine proper hole depth, gently peel back the burlap from the top of the rootball and look for the trunk flare and associated major or first-order roots. Remove any soil piled above the trunk flare. Just as with container-grown plants, the trunk flare should rest “at grade” when the rootball is rolled into the hole.
Placing the Tree in the Hole
Balled & burlapped trees should be gently lowered/rolled into the prepared hole. Once the tree is in the hole, twine encircling the trunk, burlap covering the top of the rootball, and the top third of the wire cage should be removed and discarded. If removing the entire wire cage is the goal, then removing the bottom third while the tree is still above ground will make removing the remaining part of the cage easy once placed in the hole.
Backfilling and Watering
Just as with container-grown trees, backfill with soil from the hole, firming it with gentle steps. Next, make sure plenty of water is delivered to the root system contained within the rootball.
Planting Bare Root Trees
Bare root trees have no soil around their roots. They are often sold by mail-order retailers who ship them in early springat the appropriate time of the year for planting based on your location. Plant bare root trees in spring before growth begins.
More details on planting bare root trees can be found in this article: How to Plant Bare Root Trees.
Care for Newly-Planted Trees
Newly planted trees need frequent care during the entire establishment period. Good cultural practices during this period help reduce transplant stress and create a favorable environment for tree growth.
Consistent and proper care during the establishment period is the most important thing you can do to succeed with your new tree.
Learn more in this article: Care of Newly-Planted Trees
Final Thoughts
Planting trees properly is time well spent. Cutting corners or rushing the job can contribute to failed attempts. Always keep in mind that you’re planting trees for future visitors and generations to come. Don’t disappoint them.
More Information
- Planting Trees in the Landscape
- How to Plant Bare Root Trees
- Community Tree Planting and Care Guide (PDF)
Photo credits: 1: Chamillew/AdobeStock; 2: VRD/AdobeStock; 3: VRD/AdobeStock; 4: VRD/AdobeStock; 5: pyzata/AdobeStock; 6: Aaron Steil