tree by tree
tree planting instructions
Staking can help protect young trees from physical damage in high-traffic areas, or that are planted on windy sites or in sandy soil. But don't stake a tree unless it's needed - otherwise it could do more harm than good. Use a minimum of two stakes, such as wood posts, placed outside the root ball and driven about 18 inches into the ground. Don't use rope, twine, wire, fishing line, or electrical wire to secure a tree to stakes. Instead, use soft materials such as wide cloth belting, elastic webbing, wide rubber belts, or even nylon stockings. Leave sufficient slack to enable the tree to move in the wind without rubbing against the stakes.
Call 811 Before You Dig
Underground utility lines can present serious safety risks when digging a site for a tree. Call 811 before you dig or submit a locate request online. Utility locators will come to your site to mark underground electric, gas and communications (telephone, cable, etc.) lines. This service is free and could save money, time and possibly your life.
How to Plant a Tree
1. Determine how deep to dig the hole
- Find the first major root within the root ball - gently remove soil from the top of the root ball until you find a root branching off of the trunk where the trunk appears to get wider.
- The depth of the hole should allow the first major root to sit 2 to 3 inches above soil line when root ball is placed in the planting hole.
2. Dig the planting hole
- Dig a saucer-shaped hole only as deep as the root ball as mentioned in Step 1 above.
- Measure across the root ball - the planting hole should be twice as wide as the width of the root ball.
- If the tree is planted too deeply the tree will struggle and may die. It is very important to not plant the tree too deeply.
3. Set tree in place
- If the tree is in a container, remove the container.
- Gently position the tree in the planting hole - do not handle by the trunk.
- Look at the tree from several directions and check that the tree is straight.
4. Remove root ball wrapping
- Remove all packaging including string, twine and rope. Remove as much burlap as possible without damaging the root ball.
5. Backfill
- Use the soil removed from the planting hole to backfill.
- As the hole is backfilled, use water to settle the soil around the root ball - do not compact the soil.
6. Staking
- If the tree will not stand on its own, or if the tree is planted in a high wind area, stake the tree as illustrated in the diagram above.
7. Watering
- Water the planting hole slowly and thoroughly.
8. Mulching
- Add bark or wood chip mulch to the top of the planting hole to a depth of 1 to 4 inches and to the outside of the planting hole, being sure not to put the mulch against the trunk.
9. Have your tree counted!
Additional Tips
Water frequently
Newly planted trees need frequent watering since the root ball is prone to drying out. Check the root ball and surrounding soil for moisture regularly. Both the root ball and the surrounding soil should be moist but not soggy. Remember, newly planted trees will need more water during periods of extremely high temperatures or winds.
