Trees add beauty and substance to a home landscape. They provide shade and privacy, give wild birds a place to roost and nest, and depending upon the variety, can provide  lovely flowers,  fragrance, and luscious fruit. Trees are a long term investment, so it is a good idea to plant them in the right location and take good care of them.

One of gardening’s greatest principles is expressed in the maxim, “Don’t plant a $100 tree into a $10 hole.”  Proper preparation of the planting site, and how the tree is handled during the planting, can make a big difference in the life and health of your tree for years to come.
 
Payne's Nurseries 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. Suggestions: To reduce stress on both the tree and yourself, plant in the cool of the day, morning or late afternoon. Wearing good gardening gloves also helps.

Items needed: Shovel, hose, root stimulator, soil conditioner.

The first four steps in the tree planting process are the same whether planting a containerized tree or a B&B tree.

1. Run a hose to the spot where the tree will be planted.

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.

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 the hose in the hole and turn on the water.

7. As the water flows into the hole, shovel the soil and soil conditioner mixture in around the tree’s rootball. The swirling water will helpsettle the soil , eliminating air pockets.

8. When the hole is filled with dirt, turn off the hose water and let the soil settle.

9. Give the newly planted tree a good shot of root stimulator, diluted according to the directions on the label.  Payne's carries several good root stimulators.

After following steps #1-4, continue with the following steps to plant a B&B tree:

5. Turn on the hose and fill your hole two-thirds to three-quarters of the way with water.

6. Be careful! The tree’s rootball is fragile and root breakage can be fatal to the tree. Grasping the B&B tree by the wire basket around its roots, wrestle it gently into the water-filled hole, straighten it, and turn it until reaching the direction you want it to face. When maneuvering the tree, the water in the hole will cushion the root ball.

7. 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 the tree and any twine securing the burlap to the rootball. Don’t worry about removing the wire on the very bottom, and do not remove the burlap—doing so can destroy the tree’s root hairs, killing it.

9. Turn on the hose again. As the water flows into the hole, shovel the rest of the 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 the newly planted tree a good shot of root stimulator, diluted according to the directions on the label.  Payne's carries several good root stimulators.

Watering-in a Newly Planted Tree

1. Give the 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,  the amount of water can be reduced depending on the weather and the needs of the particular kind of tree.

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!