the log blog

Planting a tree sounds pretty self-explanatory. All you have to do is a dig a hole, insert the tree, and cover up the roots, right? Well, actually it’s a little bit more complicated than that. Much like baby humans, baby trees are more fragile than their adult counterparts, and need a nurturing environment in order to grow healthy and strong.So, how do you plant a tree the right way? The first step is choosing the right time to plant. This will depend somewhat on the way the tree is packaged. Bare root seedlings, for example, should be planted in the late winter or early spring, before new growth starts. Because the seedlings are shipped without any soil on their roots, they have to be planted when the tree is naturally dormant so that they don’t wither and dry out. However, if the ground is frozen, then you will need to wait until it thaws. Make sure not to plant your trees in the middle of summer, either. Hot, dry summer weather can be deadly for a seedling! Some trees come with a root ball wrapped in burlap-the planting time for these is more flexible, but still be sure to avoid extremely hot, dry summer weather or below-freezing winter weather. Use the same guidelines when deciding when to plant trees grown in a container.

Now that you’ve chosen a time to plant, the next step is to create a “nursery” for the tree to grow up in. Remember, the key to planting a healthy seedling is to nurture the roots. Start by loosening the soil in the tree’s new home-you’ll want to prepare a hole that’s about 2-5 times the radius of the root ball or container. This will give the roots room to expand like they should. However, don’t make the hole any deeper than the root ball-burying the roots too deep will deprive them of oxygen. In fact, being planted too deep is the number one killer of newly planted trees! Make sure that the soil on the sides of the hole does not get packed too tightly. If the wall of the hole is hard and smooth, water will not be able to move through the soil like it should, and neither will the tree roots. Use the sharp end of a spade, a trowel, or even a fork to scratch the sides of the hole and keep the soil loose.

Before you place the tree in the hole, examine the roots. Both trees wrapped in burlap and trees grown in containers can sometimes develop a problem called “girding,” where the roots grow in circles around the tree. In time, this can be a fatal condition if it isn’t treated. If you see any roots that circle the tree, some minor surgery will be necessary-simply cut them so that the circular growth pattern is broken.

Now, it’s time to get the tree situated in its new home. A word about proper handling-if you have a balled sapling, always pick it up by the root ball, not the trunk! Otherwise, the weight of the root ball could damage the tree. Make sure to remove any strings or plastic ties wrapped around the burlap. Also, if the tree came wrapped in synthetic burlap material, remove it entirely. If the fabric is made of natural fibers, you can leave it, but cut away the upper third so that the trunk flare, the place where the roots meet the trunk, is fully exposed.

Next, place the tree in the hole. Make sure the trunk flare sits just above ground level. Also, examine the tree from all angles to make sure it’s standing straight. Then, fill in the hole, making sure to compress the soil somewhat. For container trees, the procedure is similar except that you may need to run your fingers through the roots to loosen them and spread them out.

For bare-root saplings, the procedure is a little bit different because they don’t have a root ball. To give the seedling a nice place to rest and get established, build up a small cone of soil in the center of the hole. Rest the seedling on top of the cone and let the roots drape down over the sides. Make sure the hole is deep enough so that the roots can extend all the way down, and that the cone is high enough so that the trunk flare rests at ground level. Fill in the hole with earth, tamping it down firmly as you go.

Aftercare

Now that the tree is planted, it’s important to give it a good start in its new home. If you have extra soil left over from filling the hole, create a berm, a shallow basin made out of earth, around the base. This will help direct water to the roots, where it is most needed. You can also apply organic mulch around the base to keep moisture in and weeds out. Sometimes, amending the soil with products such as compost or mycorrhizal fungi can also help the new tree get settled in and start growing. If your tree can’t stand on it’s own at first, you can give it support using two stakes, one on each side.

You should water the new tree immediately, and then keep giving it small amounts of water as needed. To check and see if the tree is thirsty, feel the mulch or soil at the base, a few inches below the surface-if it is hot and dry, the tree needs water. If it is cool and moist, it doesn’t. Don’t give the tree any more water than it needs, and try to gradually increase the length of time between watering-you want to “wean” the tree away from your care as soon as possible.

If you follow these tips, your new tree should grow up to be healthy, straight, and strong!

All of the above pictures were taken by K International on the site where the new woodland will be. All pictures are the copyright of K International and must not be reproduced without written permission.