There are countless benefits to planting trees in your landscape!
They add shape, structure, and visual appeal. Trees improve air quality for better health, and can reduce your homes energy by 20-50%! They provide a home for local birds and other wildlife, and some studies even show that they reduce stress and benefit mental health. In order to gain all these benefits, it’s important that you know when and how to plant and care for your trees.
You should plant your trees in the fall instead of the spring because the cool temperatures promote root growth and the tree can focus all its energy on forming healthy roots. When you plant in the spring the heat of the season can cause stress, too much rain can drown roots, and trees spend their energy on growing buds and leaves instead of establishing their roots. Planting your trees in the fall gives them the best chance of flourishing in your garden year after year.
HOW TO:
When you’re planting trees there are several easy steps:
- Dig a rounded hole at least twice the width of the root ball.
- Center the root ball in the hole and make sure the root flare is at or slightly above the rim of the hole. Be sure to water before planting to loosen the roots and make sure that the hole is clean of any organic debris such as twigs, leaves, or pine cones.
- While holding the tree upright, fill the hole with the displaced soil and pack well to eliminate excess air pockets.
- Add quality fertilizer that contains mycorrhizae to support healthy root growth.
- Add a few inches of organic mulch and water your tree deeply.
PRO TIPS
- Start planting your trees in Mid-August to Mid-October
- Make sure your soil is no less than 50 degrees
- Plant the sapling as soon as possible (if you can’t plant right away store in a cool dark place)
- Pay attention to the root flare when planting. If it’s too deep the tree will suffer and fail.
- Water newly planted trees 2-3 times a week (in dry periods or dry climates with sandy soil, water daily)
- Stake the tree this support can be removed after a year
- If planted a bit too late, bolster the health of your tree with plenty of water, microrrizea fertilizer, pruning, and disease protection.
Now that you have all the information you need, check out all of our amazing trees at WaysideGardens.com.