> Next: Digging Planting Holes for Trees
Preparing to Plant Trees
Planting Trees
There are several different methods for planting landscape trees, depending on how they were grown and prepared prior to sale.
Trees are generally offered as bare root, balled-and-burlapped, or as they were grown, in either nursery containers or boxes.
Bare-Root Trees
When planting a bare-root tree, soak the roots in water for several hours before planting. This allows the tree to take up water through its roots and survive any transplant shock.
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Dig a planting hole wide and deep enough to accommodate the roots [See: Digging Planting Holes for Trees]. Make a cone-shaped mound of soil in the center of the hole, then arrange the roots so they spread over the mound.
Backfill with soil until the hole is three-quarters full, and water thoroughly. Let the soil settle, then finish filling the hole with the remaining native soil and water once again.
Balled-and-Burlapped Trees
For a balled-and-burlapped tree, prepare the hole as you would for a container-grown tree.
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What should you do with the burlap? Leave natural-fiber burlap under the rootball when you place it in the planting hole, but pull the top fabric away from the trunk and tuck it along the sides of the rootball so it doesn’t wick water away from the roots. The tree’s roots will grow through it and it will slowly decompose.
Always completely remove synthetic burlap after you put the tree into its planting hole, however. Reach into the hole and make several vertical slices in the fabric with a gardener’s knife, then pull it out from alongside and under the tree.
Once the burlap has been handled, backfill the hole with soil and water well.
Container-Grown Trees
When planting containerized trees, dig a planting hole the same depth as their rootballs, and 2–4 in. (50–100 mm) wider.
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Using a pitchfork or other tined tool, poke holes into the soil at the bottom and sides of the hole, as well as along the surface around the planting hole. Penetrate the surrounding soil and pry back on the tool to loosen and break the soil—these holes will help the tree roots grow and spread beyond the planting hole.
Carefully remove the tree from its container, loosen and fan out the roots, and prune any damaged roots. Place the rootball in the planting hole, making sure that the roots are relatively straight and fanned down. Match the top of the rootball with the level of the surrounding soil or keep it slightly higher than its surroundings.
Level the tree so it is vertical. Backfill with native soil that has been broken up with a shovel. Gently tamp the soil as you go to remove any air pockets, but remember that you want the soil to be loose and breathable.
If your tree is growing in a potting medium that is of a different texture than your native soil, gently wash away about a third of the potting soil with a garden hose, then place the rootball in the planting hole.
Backfill the hole with native soil until it’s one-third full. Water thoroughly, let the soil settle, then finish filling the hole with the remaining native soil.
Container-Grown Trees
Boxed trees are usually large specimen trees and are more mature than smaller trees meant to grow into their planting locations.
They are planted similarly to nursery container trees, but because of their size they are often planted by tree professionals. Enlist expert help if you plan to plant trees in boxes larger than 3–ft. (90–cm) square.
Before You Plant
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