The last Friday in April is Arbor Day. Arbor Day is an annual observance to plant trees. Valley Green belongs to several tree-related organizations that protect trees and care for them. We also carry several types of tree care products. We hope you are able to get outside and plant for Arbor Day. Whether is with your family or even your co-workers, planting trees can be a safe activity even if we are still in a pandemic. Please enjoy our article this week on easy tree planting tips. If you need more easy tree planting tips, don’t hesitate to contact us.
Five Easy Tree Planting Tips
- Prepare the hole you want to plant in. When preparing the hole for planting, make it two to three times wider than the tree’s root mass but never deeper than the tree was growing in its environment. Another good tip is to not place the tree’s flair so deep into the soil that any part of the flair is covered with soil.
- Rough up the sides of the tree planting hole. When you finish digging the hole, you’ll want to rough up the sides of the hole that are smooth. The smooth surface of the soil can actually prevent the new roots from penetrating the soil.
- Untangle the roots before planting the tree. Normally you’ll want to disturb tree roots as little as possible but if you remove the tree from the pot and the roots are bound, you’ll want to loosen them with your hands. This will help stop the roots from circling again and help them grow out into the surrounding soil. While detangling the roots, you’ll want to prune away the dead ones.
- Mulch the area around the tree. Once the tree is planted, add two to three inches of mulch. Mulch holds moisture and improves the soil as it slowly breaks down. Don’t let the mulch touch the trunk as it can hold too much moisture and damage the bark. Don’t use stone mulch because it can “cook” the roots and stimulate the tree to grow during the dormant season.
- Water the tree: A newly planted tree requires six to eight gallons of water for every diameter inch of trunk per week. Soak the ground thoroughly rather than lighter more frequent waterings.