Everyone loves to enjoy beautiful trees in their yard that provide shade, boost oxygen, and even sometimes provide delicious, fresh fruit. However, there are provisions that need to be done to ensure the trees will last for years and will allow your trees to thrive.
We have come up with useful dos and don’ts to allow your tree planting to have outstanding outcomes.
DO
Do Check for Powerlines
It is important before planting a tree to make sure the spot you wish to plant it in is not close to any powerlines. If you plant your tree close to a powerline and it grows to be quite large, it may become a fire hazard and could disrupt power during a storm. If you currently have a tree that is close to powerlines, be sure to contact a licensed arborist to trim it for you.
Do Contact a Certified Arborist
It is always recommended to contact a certified arborist for a consult before moving forward with tree planting. Before you start digging that hole in your yard, ask a certified arborist to ensure that everything has the go-ahead before excavation. This prevents permanent tree planting errors. Our arborists are certified and insured and offer consultations.
Do Use Organic Fertilizers
Use organic fertilizers that don’t contain synthetic chemicals. These perform much better than those containing synthetic chemicals. They not only hold nutrients better, but they build a much better soil profile.
Do Dig the Hole with Caution
When preparing to dig the hole for your tree to live and grow in, make sure to make the hole three times bigger than the diameter of the root ball of the tree you are planting. Always make sure to contact your power/utility company to determine where the underground utilities like natural gas or hydro electric lines exist. You will always be held financially responsible if you damage any of the lines. If you are still not fully confident that you are planting the tree correctly, contact an arborist.
Do Plant in the Right Weather
There is optimal weather for planting a tree. If you plant a tree in hot and dry weather, it will affect the water availability within the soil and won’t allow your tree to grow completely healthy. The best type of weather to plant a tree is in the fall or spring when it is cool, humid and cloudy. The night before you plant your tree, be sure to soak the roots in a bucket of water to prep it for planting.
DON’T
Don’t Drown Your Tree
When you first plant your tree, it will require a ton of water. However, once it has been planted, don’t water it too frequently. Overwatering can cause the roots to drown. Infrequent but large amounts of water can actually promote deep root growth and drought resiliency. In dry periods, your tree may require a bit of extra water.
Don’t Fertilize After a Certain Season
After July, be sure not to fertilize your trees. While it is true that fertilizer promotes new growth, trees need a significant amount of time to harden off before the wintertime comes. This is why it is optimal to fertilize in the spring and beginning of summer. If you fertilize your trees after July, there is a good chance that the cold weather may result in critical damage or stress to the tree.
Don’t Walk on the Soil After Planting
Many people can’t help stepping on the soil to flatten it after planting. Do NOT do this! When all of the soil is in place and covering all the roots, be sure to provide the tree with lots of water. The water will settle the soil and help to flatten it out. Manually setting the soil with your feet causes a lot of compaction of the soil and if it settles below grade, it will require more backfill.
Don’t Plant Your Trees in the Wrong Areas
When you first plant any kind of tree, they are small. However, it is important to understand just how big the tree you’re planting will grow and if you are planting it in too small of an area. In years to come, once the tree is fully grown, you don’t want the branches to grow into wires, structures, or other people’s homes.
Don’t Plant Your Tree Too Close to Other Trees & Surroundings
Trees need plenty of space to grow, so it is important you don’t plant your tree too close to another. When you plant trees too close to one another, it makes them compete for water and sunlight. Make sure to plant your trees an appropriate distance apart so that you don’t put unnecessary competition or stress on them as they growth and prevent the branches of both trees from intertwining.
Keep in mind the average canopy size of the tree you wish to plant. Remember that the root system can be even more expansive than the canopy. Arborists typically use a ratio of 12 to 1 as a means for calculating the root protection zone diameter; meaning 12 inches (one foot) or room for every 1 inch of trunk. But this varies depending on the type of tree, age, and many more factors.
By following these steps, you will be sure to have a healthy and luscious tree to compliment your yard. When in doubt, call a certified arborist to ensure you plant properly the first time around and grow a beautiful, healthy tree.
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Until Next Time,
The Advanced Tree Care Team
