You Don’t Need a Green Thumb With This Fool-Proof Tree Planting Guide

Besides being attractive, trees serve a purpose when planted on your property. They help shade your house and lower the temperature up to 20 degrees during the hottest part of the year.

If you’re planning on planting trees or planting shrubs around your home, it’s wise to be practical and purposeful while also aiming to make your landscaping aesthetically pleasing.

Do you dream of planting beautiful trees on your property? Check out this tree planting guide to find out all the information you need.

Planting a Tree

Once you’ve decided what you want the tree to do for you (shade, privacy, windbreak) and where you are going to plant it, it’s time to get started.

If you don’t know how to plant a tree, you’ve come to the right place. The proper placement and timing are important for this lifelong investment.

When Should You Plant Your Tree?

To increase your chances of being successful, you should plant your tree during the dormant season, either in the fall after leaves have dropped or in the spring before the trees bud. The tree is given the opportunity to get established before the April showers.

In tropical and subtropical climates, you can plant a tree anytime as long as you’re not experiencing a drought. A sufficient supply of water is a must.

Gardening Tips

• Dig the hole for the tree two to three times as wide as the container in which it came. Don’t dig the hole too deep, just deep enough to fit the root ball.
• The point at the base of the tree where the trunk flares should still be visible when you place it in the hole.
• Planting it too deep will deprive the roots of oxygen.
• Use the dirt you removed to fill in around the outer edge of the hole.
• Pack the soil around the tree to prevent air pockets that will dry out the roots.
• Stake the tree until it gets established and stands on its own.
• Place mulch around the tree to hold moisture and fight off grass and weeds.

Follow-Up Care

It is important to keep the soil moist but not too wet. Water once a week unless you’re getting a sufficient amount of rain. Conversely, if it’s extremely hot and dry or windy, you’ll have to water more often.

Once the tree is established, it won’t require much attention other than trimming and pruning.

Wondering when to prune your red maple? Get all the info you need here.

Tree Planting Guide for Homeowners

Now that you’ve seen our tree planting guide, are you ready to tackle your landscaping project? If you do it right, you can sit back and enjoy the fruits of your labor.

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