New Tree Planting and Care Tips

You may want to plant a tree in your garden for any number of reasons. Whatever may be your reason for planting a new tree and whatever may be its type you need to follow a few steps so that your tree gets established properly and grows up to be healthy and strong. Once you have decided on the type of tree you will plant and its location you have to transport it from the local nursery to your garden. You have to make sure that the new tree remains intact and is unharmed and stress free during transit.

To make sure that the new tree remains unharmed during transportation you must have it secured properly and make sure that it is handled with care when loading an unloading. If there is any possibility of wind damage to needles or buds the tree should be wrapped or covered during transportation. Once the tree has arrived at the spot you need to plant it as soon as possible. However, if it cannot be planted immediately for any reason then place it on the northern side of your building away from heat and direct sunlight. The root clump must be kept moist to prevent the tree's roots from drying out.

The depth of planting is very important. Dig the hole as deep as or slightly smaller than the height of the root clump. However the hole should be dug so that it is twice the width of the roots clump. This is done so that there is no compacted soil around the roots clump that would restrict the growth of the roots. While lowering the clump into the hole support it with your hand and lower it gently. Dropping it into the hole can break its roots. The soil in the clump should remain intact. Remove any twine around the trunk or cut away any wire basket supporting the clump. Fill in the soil that you had dug out from the hole.

Soils of construction sites are usually compacted and the topsoil is damaged. Depending on the quality of the soil you may need to made amendments by including peat moss, good loamy soil, and mulches to enhance its moisture and nutrient holding capacity. This mixture can be used for filling the hole. Adding organic matter helps the soil to allow free movement of air and water around the roots. However, you won't need to add fertilizer during planting. Fertilizer can be introduced when the root system is well established.

Usually you don't have to stake trees and they will develop stronger without staking. However, if the area is windy and the newly planted trees tend to bend too much due to wind then they will need staking. Insert two stakes on opposite sides of the tree outside the root system and secure the tree loosely to the stakes with wide straps or hose. Also don't use bare wire as it will damage the tree's bark. Staking is provided only for the first year.

Mulching around the new tree will keep the soil moist and limit the growth of weeds around the tree so that they don't compete with the tree for nutrients. Applying a 4 to 6 inches wood or bark chips mulch around the tree away from the trunk is good enough. Water the newly planted trees regularly for three years for good growth. Watering should be infrequent and deep because frequent short watering will promote the make the root system shallow.

If you follow the above steps for planting and caring for the new tree then your new tree will grow up to become strong and healthy.