Tree Planting Season: Tips for the Best Success
Waiting for warmer spring weather can be like watching grass grow – a slow, and tortuous process. While you wait for winter to finally melt away, think about the springtime tree planting. One of the first things to consider when selecting any plant for a landscape should be the functional role the plant will play in the overall landscape.
“Selection of trees for planting in a home landscape depends on several factors, including a suitable growing site and any function they are going to serve,” explains Tchukki Andersen, BCMA, CTSP* and staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). “Will they attract birds to the area? Shade a patio? Screen an unsightly view? Enhance the appearance of the home? Trees can provide contrast and relief from surrounding buildings and create seasonal interest in areas near the home,” says Andersen.
Once you’ve determined what you want your tree to do, consider the following factors when selecting a tree to plant:
Planting Site Evaluation
Available Sunlight – The amount of sunlight a tree receives can limit the kind of tree that can be planted. Consider the tree species and the location in your yard in order to determine if there will be enough (or not too much) available sunlight.
Available Water –Make sure the new planting site will have enough available water for the new tree. Proper watering is the single most important aspect of the maintenance of newly transplanted trees. In the first year or two, it is important to keep the root ball moist but not over-watered.
Room to Grow- Consider any above and below ground space restrictions. Are there overhead electrical wires the tree may grow into? Are there water and power lines underground that could interfere with root growth? Growth of trees will be restricted in less than 20 years if there are less than 200 square feet of open soil around them, including those planted close to buildings or hardscape.
When to Plant
The optimum planting time can vary drastically by region and elevation in the United States. The celebration of Arbor Day in any given state is a good indicator of optimum planting conditions for that region. Spring planting allows tree nurseries to provide a much wider selection of trees, than in the fall. Planting trees in the spring allows more time to establish and grow more over the course of the warmer months in order to best survive the dormant season. Additionally, a qualified tree care provider has the experience and knowledge to help you plant a tree at any time of year provided there is a follow up with an after-care program to ensure the best plant health.
Plant It, Don’t Bury It
Planting the tree too deeply will drastically reduce its healthy lifespan, as well as cause potential hazards as it grows. Planting trees too deeply can fall over in even moderate winds – usually causing damage or injury. Dig the planting hole slightly shallower than the tree root ball and at least twice as wide. This is to allow for flattening and settling of the root ball. The uppermost large woody lateral roots should be planted within one to two inches of the soil surface. You’ll have to poke into the top of the root ball with a stiff wire to find the topmost lateral roots. Place the root ball on a stable subgrade to minimize settling. Water the rootball sufficiently and add a 3 – inch later of composted wood chip mulch over the top.
TCIA hopes you will enjoy the spring with a successful tree and shrub planting in your landscape.
Find a Professional
A professional arborist can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the best trees and shrubs to plant for your existing landscape, and how best to protect them. Homeowners who would like a professional arborist to assess their trees should contact the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). TCIA is a public and professional resource on trees and arboriculture since 1938. TCIA has the nation’s only Accreditation program that helps consumers find tree care companies that have been inspected and accredited based on: adherence to industry standards for quality and safety; maintenance of trained, professional staff; and dedication to ethics and quality in business practices. An easy way to find a tree care service provider in your area is to use the “Locate Your Local TCIA Member Companies” program.
You can use this service by visiting www.treecaretips.org.
Great article. I am constantly coming across problems caused by trees that have been planted without any forethought.
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These are awesome planting tips.
Good tips and tricks, we use similar ones when going about our business.
I found it interesting how you mentioned that you could decrease the lifespan of a tree by planting it too deeply. My cousin is considering looking for forestry consulting services because he’s thinking of planting more trees on his land to help and try to improve the environment. It seems sensible for my cousin to contemplate hiring a reputable professional that can help provide planting tips so that he places the timber objects in proper areas.
Planting trees needs lot of space so that it can grow healthy with its maximum height of the tree, best if you will plant it in its season so that your tree will grow faster.
Best to plant trees is in the middle of rainy season and in summer, not so dry not so wet just a so so.
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This was awesome stuff….Thank you of sharing your knowledge
Thank you for such valuable information, I’m glad you took the time to share with us such key information. We recently acquired some land and we would like to use it. http://www.lakecountytrees.com
Wow, thank you for the tips. I’m currently working on my thesis about hydro planting. It’s been a though day -_-
Very much useful post. Got some awesome planting tips.
It is an intriguing post, and you have shared a step-by-step process to plant trees successfully. It helps to know all this, but the best way is to hire a professional, especially if you are looking for tree removal in Henderson.
Very informative article!
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I really appreciate your effort in providing these tree planting tips! This is worth sharing!
Wonderful post!
This is really wonderful! Thanks!
This is a great tip for tree planting and saving the ecosystem! I have a big space to plant some trees but I am looking for some tips that I could use to care for my trees. Thanks for sharing some wonderful tips!
This is a very good tip for starters like me
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Theses are great tips.
Planting a tree is easier than you think.
I just received an avocado tree by mail order and i’m really worried about how to plant such a delicate tree. Thanks for this article!
Great tips! Thanks for the info! https://www.treeremovalfremont.com
Thanks for sharing informative blog.
Glad to see this article, it’s very helpful. Thank you.
I find this blog interesting. You really made a lot of effort for this one.
Thanks for the great post on tree planting! I’m excited to get started this season. As you mentioned, water is key in the first few years after transplanting.
Thanks for sharing this interesting article here.
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Great site to visit! Thank you so much for this.
Reading a great blog and an informative one is so amazing.
I like how useful this informative blog is.
A fascinating site to visit; we grow trees at our school every year. As usual, a fantastic post.
Excellent tips on planting for the future. thanks for taking the time to write such an awesome blog!
Happy to find an amazing blog.