Tree Planting Tips

When planting trees and shrubs, proper technique is very important. Here are some important steps:

1. Dig the planting hole three times the width of the tree’s root ball. Roots grow outwards more than down. 
2. Cut off any wire or burlap from the root ball. Loosen the soil in the ball and try to spread the roots out. It is very important to cut away any circling roots. Make sure that the tree’s root collar (the area of transition from trunk to roots) is exposed. You may have to remove soil that was covering the root collar while in the pot. 
3. When placing the tree in the prepared hole, be sure that the root collar is at the soil surface. A straight edge across the hole is a good guide to check that the tree is not set too low in the planting hole. You will likely need to put some dirt back into the hole to get the tree positioned correctly. 
4. Put a layer of organic mulch over the soil surface after planting. Do not mound it up around the base of the trunk. 
5. Give your new tree a good watering.