 Trees add beauty and substance to a home landscape. They protect us from the summer sun and from the prying eyes of neighbors; give wild birds a place to roost and nest; and depending upon the variety, can provide us with lovely flowers, enchanting fragrance, and luscious fruit. Trees are also a big investment. So it makes sense to treat them well from day one.
One of gardening’s greatest principles is expressed in the maxim, “Don’t stick a $100 tree into a $10 hole.” How you prepare your planting site, and how you handle your tree during the planting, can make a big difference in the life and health of your tree for years to come.
Nursery bought trees come in two basic forms: containerized and ball-and-burlap (B&B). Containerized trees are sold in pots or tubs. B&B trees have their rootballs wrapped in burlap, wire mesh, or a combination of these materials. B&B trees are usually sunk into the ground of the nursery.
Here’s how to plant each type. (Hint: For your sake and the tree’s, plant in the cool of the day, morning or late afternoon. The stress on both of you will be lots less!)
Planting Your Tree: General First Steps
The first four steps in the tree planting process are the same whether you are planting a containerized tree or a B&B tree.
1. Run a hose to the spot where you are going to plant your tree.
2. Dig a hole 1 ½ to 2 times the width of the container or rootball and slightly (2-4”) deeper.
3. Set the excavated soil to one side and mix together 3 parts soil to 2 parts Payne’s Soil Conditioner™.
4. Place a portion of this mixture (about 2 inches’ worth) in the bottom of the hole, tamping it down thoroughly so that the plant will not settle and create problems in the future.
Planting Your Containerized Tree
After following steps #1-4, continue with the following steps to plant a containerized tree:
5. Gently remove the tree from its pot, and place the tree in the hole.
6. Put the open end of your hose in the hole and turn on the water.
7. As the water flows into the hole, shovel the soil-soil conditioner mixture in around the tree’s rootball. The swirling water will help soil settle, eliminating air pockets.
8. When the hole is filled with dirt, turn off the hose water and let the soil settle.
9. Give your newly planted tree a good shot of root stimulant, diluted according to the directions on the label. Popular brands are SuperThrive™ or Fertilome™ Root Stimulator.
Planting Your Ball-and-Burlap Tree
After following steps #1-4, continue with the following steps to plant a B&B tree:
5. Turn on your hose and fill your hole two-thirds to three-quarters of the way with water.
6. Grasping your B&B tree by the wire basket around its roots, wrestle your B&B tree gently into the water-filled hole, straighten it, and get it facing the way you want. As you maneuver the tree, the water in the hole will cushion the tree’s fragile rootball to prevent root breakage (which, should it occur, can be fatal to the tree).
7. Enjoy an adult beverage of your choice while you wait for the water to sink into the ground around the tree.
8. When the water has drained from the hole, remove the sides and top of the wire basket around the rootball of your tree, and any twine securing the burlap to the rootball. Don’t worry about removing the wire on the very bottom, and don’t remove the burlap; doing so can destroy the tree’s root hairs, killing it.
9. Turn on your hose again. As the water flows into the hole, shovel the rest of your soil and conditioner mixture in around the tree’s rootball. The swirling water will help soil settle, eliminating air pockets.
10. When the hole is filled with dirt, turn off the hose water and let the soil settle.
11. Give your newly planted tree a good shot of root stimulant, diluted according to the directions on the label.
Watering In Your Newly Planted
Containerized or B&B Tree
1. Give your tree a slow, deep watering two or three times a week for the first year, from planting time until the fall. This is essential for helping it establish healthy roots. In addition, water-stressed trees are highly vulnerable to insect and disease attack. In subsequent years, you can reduce the amount you water depending on the weather and the needs of the particular kind of tree you’ve planted.
2. To increase watering efficiency, use extra soil to form a water basin above ground around the tree at the diameter of the drip line of the plant.
3. Apply a 2” layer of mulch to the water basin to reduce evaporation. Enjoy your beautiful Payne’s tree!
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