Follow these simple steps to plant a tree

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 11/06/2016 (3402 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

I have received many inquiries from readers asking what they need to know and do to establish a new tree properly. The hope is it will grow well and bear healthy, delicious fruit. In your mind you have chosen a favourite fruit tree from a catalogue or from an online source. Choose a source for that tree from a nursery or garden centre where you have had good experience in purchasing plants, especially woody plants. How do you begin to plant it in the best possible way so you can expect it to grow well?

Dig the hole where the tree is to be planted. The width of the hole should be about four times wider than its depth essentially forming a saucer-like opening in the soil. Start the planting project by getting the right kind of soil mix for the hole. I recommend a mixture of good garden-centre quality topsoil and well-rotted compost in equal amounts. Thoroughly mix the top soil with the compost. You will also need to get some fine bark chips to eventually cover the soil over the planted tree.

Let’s say you are planning to buy a typical sized apple tree variety such as Goodland. You will want to choose a location in your yard that has as much unobstructed sunlight as possible. You do not want to plant the tree under a large shade tree. Ideally, be sure there is no overhead power or communication lines connecting to your house. You should also make certain there aren’t any buried underground

A saucer shape configuration for the hole in which the tree is to be established is best. Usually the purchased tree comes in either a burlap bag or a plastic container depending on its size. Larger caliper trees (two or more inches in diameter, 12 inches above the ground in the nursery) may be bound by burlap or in a wire-net open basket.

The tree needs to be set in the hole so the level at the base of the trunk corresponds to the grade level of your yard. To ensure this has been properly done, hammer two small stakes into the ground on either side of the pit opening. Tie a string to the base of one stake and pull it taut so that it can be secured tight around the base of the second stake. This will ensure the installed tree will be at the right level when the installation is finished.

Place some of the soil mix at the base of the hole. Firmly tamp it in place. Remove the plastic basket. If a burlap sack was used, untie it and leave it in place, unless the garden centre has given you instructions to remove it. Place the tree ball in the centre of the pit. Back fill some soil mix and add some water to settle the soil. Ensure the tree is completely vertical at all times. Keep adding soil with some more water until the soil level reaches the top of the root ball, which should be close to the string described earlier. More watering may be necessary to settle the soil. The base of the tree should be just slightly above grade level.

Once the final surface of the soil mix reaches the string, the string can be removed. Then spread some of the fine bark chip mulch to cover the planting area to a depth of about five to 7.5 centimetres to prevent excessive evaporation from the soil mix. With the excess bark mulch produce a raised ‘saucer’ at the edge of the planting area on top of the soil mix. Once completed place two wooden stakes into the soil mix adjacent to the root ball. Use two pieces of old garden hose each threaded with wire to secure the tree to the stakes. Good luck and enjoy your tree.

Michael Allen M.Sc.F., RPF (ret’d) is a consulting urban forester, tree diagnostician and certified arbourist. He owns Viburnum Tree Experts. He makes house and garden visits, diagnoses problematic and hazardous trees. He can be reached at 204-831-6503 or 204-223-7709, or at viburnumtrees@shaw.ca His web site is www.treeexperts.mb.ca