How to Plant a Tree

This favorite Joyce Kilmer poem of childhood speaks to the affection many of us have for trees in our environment. We love to walk amongst them, have them for shade in our yards and sit under them on a hot sunny day. Urban areas without trees have a soulless feel to them. We understand how vital trees are for human beings, at the same time that we watch millions of acres of rain forest being cleared every year and deforestation throughout Africa and many other areas of our world. The benefits of planting a tree are numerous.

We hear a lot these days about purchasing carbon credits to offset our less than environmental lifestyle choices. We can choose to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by simply planting a tree in our backyards. Not only does every tree planted offset the ones lost in deforestation around the world, it helps curb global warming because trees need carbon dioxide to survive. And if you plant trees on the east and west sides of your home you can also help cut your air condtioning usage by up to 30 percent, according to Dan Malone, an electrical utility supervisor and electrical engineer.

It can be expensive to hire a landscaper to plant a tree, but you can do the task yourself. Depending upon the size of the tree you may be able to do it, simply by digging a hole and adding instant green to your home and yard.

You can order trees to be shipped or you can purchase them at your local nursery. You can even find trees in woods or friends houses. Just make sure you're not taking a tree from protected parks or forests. Usually forests and woods need small trees and undergrowth trimmed out to allow healthier woods to flourish. You can often get permission from a landowner of a woods to dig a tree to take home to plant.

How to plant a bare root tree

Step one: Soak the tree in water for three to six hours

Step two: Dig a wide hole, so the roots of the tree you are going to plant can be spread out with crowding.

Step three: Plant the tree at the same depth that it stood in the nursery, woods or lawn. Partially fill in the dirt around the tree pressing it down firmly but not packed around the roots of the tree.

Step four: With the tree being held straight, shovel in the remaining soil all around the tree. Pack firmly but not tightly.

Step five: Give the tree plenty of water and make a ring about 3 feet around the tree to act as a water basin. Fill with water.

Step six: After the water has soaked in, place a two inch deep area of protective mulch about 3 feet in diameter arond the base of the tree, but not touching the tree you planted itself.

Step seven: Water the tree frequently every week or 10 days during the first year of growth unless you have lots of rain in your area.

You can find more information about tree planting and maintenance at www.arborday.org/trees

How to plant a tree that was in a container and with a root ball

Step one: Dig or till up an area one foot deep and about five times the diameter of the root ball of the tree you are planting.

Step two: Place the tree (without the container) in the hole- always handle the tree by the root ball not the trunk or branches.

Step three: Pack the soil firmly but not tightly around the root ball.

Step four: Water the soil.

Step five: Place a three foot donut like circle of mulch around the tree, so that water flows toward the trunk. Do not let the mulch touch the trunk.

While one tree may not replace a rain forest, if everyone in your neighborhood added three of four trees to their lawn, you can turn your neighborhood into a region where trees are loved and respected for the many benefits they provide us.

There are many types of trees that you can choose to plant in your yard. Check out some of the more popular varieties here. Before you choose a tree, do some research and consider your yard, your soil and what kind of tree you want. Do you want a beautiful spring flowering tree, or a large and massive solid oak tree? With thousands of varieties of trees to choose from, you can find the perfect tree to plant in your yard.

There are many places to find cheap or free trees to plant and you can find some of them listed at the barganist website. You can even find cheap or free trees to plant at Craig's list or Ebay!

Resources

http://www.bargainist.com/deals/2008/04/where-to-find-cheap-or-free-trees/
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sby/grd/1362848339.html
http://www.treesaregood.com/
http://www.trees-online.com/types_of_trees/types_of_trees.shtml