How to Plant a Tree

Plant a tree correctly and you can be confident it will thrive and give you many years of pleasure.  Here is how.

Difficulty Level: Easy      Time Required: 5 minutes

Here's How:

1. Dig a hole 2-3 times as wide as the root mass width and the same depth as the tree was planted in the nursery.
2. Make sure the sides of the hole are soft, rough, and uneven as this will help speed root development in native soil.
3. Place the baby tree in the hole, making sure it is visually straight.
4. Backfill with soil around the roots until the hole is half full.
5. Water to settle the soil and remove air pockets.
6. Continue adding soil until hole is filled.
7. Build a soil berm to form a basin or depression around the edge of filled hole.
8. Fill depression with water several times always allowing it to soak into the root area between each filling.
9. Fill the depression with mulch.

Tips:

1. When the tree is in a container - gently remove root ball from container.   If roots are circling or pot bound,  gently separate and spread or untangle the root mass.
2. When the tree is balled and burlaped - Remove all wire or twine.  Carefully place tree in hole so ball is level or slightly higher than surrounding ground.
3. When the tree is bare root -  Keep roots moist at all times and plant at the same depth that it grew in the nursery.
   

Related Features:

• Facts and Guidelines on Planting Trees
• Why Not Plant a Tree?
• Ten Commandments of Tree Seedling Survival