How to Plant a Tree - Truckee Meadows Water Authority (2024)

FAQs

How to plant a tree step by step? ›

Fill the plant hole with water while preparing the site to eliminate air pockets in the soil. If planting in poorly-draining soil, the hole may be dug so that up to one-third of the root ball is above the ground. To determine if you have a poorly-draining soil, fill the plant hole with water.

It's good practice to loosen the root ball in general, but not always necessary. If the plant is root bound like this, then you absolutely should break it up. It'll keep the plant's roots from spiraling. and choking it out.

Modern methods require that you dig a much wider hole - two to five times as wide as the root ball and even wider on sites with very poor, compacted soil. The hole sides should be slanted and the hole should be no deeper than the root ball is tall, so it can be placed directly on undisturbed soil.

Experts recommend adding no more than two to four inches of planting medium to the base of any tree at one time. Make sure to use a light blend of soil— or, better yet, compost—and organic mulch such as wood chips, shredded bark, or pine needles.

For the first three years, young trees need slow, deep watering during the dry season. This is usually from April to October, but may be longer. Water deeply by setting your hose on a slow trickle or using a soaker hose near the base of the tree. Leave the hose on trickle for about 2 hours.

Newly planted trees or shrubs require more frequent watering than established trees and shrubs. They should be watered at planting time and at these intervals: 1-2 weeks after planting, water daily. 3-12 weeks after planting, water every 2 to 3 days.

Bare root trees can't sit around for too long, waiting to be planted. You can keep them in a cool, shady spot for up to a week. But you've gotta make sure their roots stay moist.

Trees should be planted with root flare at or above ground level. Trees should be planted with the root flare, or where the trunk starts to develop roots, level or 1-2 inches above the level of the soil.

Planting too deeply

It is not uncommon to see trees planted as much as three or more inches too deep with mulch piled on top adding to the problem. Deep planting causes bark deterioration at the soil line, which can eventually kill the plant. It usually takes a few seasons for a tree or shrub to die from this.

How deep should the hole be when planting? ›

The depth of the hole should be 2 or 3 inches less than the height of the rootball. Slope the sides of the hole so the top of the hole is several inches wider than the bottom. Poorly drained sites are difficult locations for many trees.

The best soil to plant trees in contains additions of compost or organic materials, known as soil amendments. Organic matter consisting of soil conditioners and rotten manure promotes health and speedy growth. Some people use sawdust or woodchips, but these can deprive the tree of the soil's nutrients.

The best soil to plant trees in contains additions of compost or organic materials, known as soil amendments. Organic matter consisting of soil conditioners and rotten manure promotes health and speedy growth. Some people use sawdust or woodchips, but these can deprive the tree of the soil's nutrients.

As with all living things, trees have a life cycle – from conception (seed), to birth (sprout), to infancy (seedling), to juvenile (sapling), to adult (mature), to elderly (decline), and finally to death (snag/rotting log).

Fall is often considered the best time of year to plant new trees. Generally, late August, September and October are the best months. It all depends, though, on when it actually feels like fall. As long as the hottest days of summer are gone and the ground isn't frozen yet, you can still plant trees.