How to Plant a Tree

Trees are best planted in the dormant season, between leaf drop and bud break

Small trees establish better and quicker, they will often outgrow large ones within 2-3 years

Newly planted trees should be "babied" through the first summer, maybe the second too, water and weed around them.

A stake is mainly to prevent the wind rocking the rootball while the roots establish.

A tree is a very long-lived plant, even short-lived trees will be around for 30-40 years, depending on species and situation and 100 years+ is quite possible for many. When planting a tree another 10 minutes effort is nothing compared to how long the tree will be there so you might as well do it properly, especially when cutting corners could result in a short life and being back to square one again but having lost a few years of growth.

First clear a space around the tree so there is no competition from grass or other plants, about 18-24" square or round, use a spade to cut the shape out first.

Push the spade about an inch or so under the soil so you get most of the grass roots, but don't dig up too much soil. Short back and forth jabbing movements cut through best. If you've a lot to do, sharpen the spade somewhat first.

If you are careful, you can remove the soil and grass in a single piece and even plant it again elsewhere in the garden. If you don't want to use it again or if it's in lots of small pieces, put it upside down on the compost heap.

Dig a hole about 3 times the volume of the root ball or pot your tree is in, a bucket or wheelbarrow to put the soil in keeps things clean.

Mix in some organic matter, garden compost, well rotted manure or something out of a bag. Fill about 1/3 to 1/2 the volume of the hole and then dig it into the surrounding soil. The idea is to create a softer buffer zone between the roots and soil proper. You can also add some granular fertiliser to the hole such as gromore or blood, fish and bone and mix it in well.

Use the root ball or pot of the tree to gauge the size of the hole. This is a young pear tree bought as a "rootball", it has been growing in the ground, then dug up with roots and soil intact which is held in place by some tied cloth netting.

Place the stake before you put the tree in the hole. If it is a long stake, use the spade to dig a narrow hole at the bottom of the hole to get the end in deeper still.

Use a lump hammer to drive the stake further into the ground, the main purpose of the stake is to stop the wind rocking the roots before new ones have anchored the tree into the ground. A sound footing is more important than being a tall support.

Remove the cloth binding and plant the tree at the old soil level mark on the stem, take care not to bury it more deeply than it was, or have it higher above the ground. You will probably have to make a slot in the rootball/compost from the pot to get the tree close to the stake so it is vertical rather than leaning, use your hands for this and tease out any roots rather than cut or damage them. Fill in with the soil you dug out and carefully firm down all round with your foot.

Tie the tree to the stake, the stem of the tree should not be rubbing on the stake, this commercial tree tie has a spacer to prevent this. It should be firm but not too tight. Old nylon tights or stockings can be used for a tie instead of a bought one, tie in a figure of 8 so the tree is not rubbing against the stake.

Give the tree a good watering of a gallon or two. You need to do this whether the ground is wet or dry, the purpose is not so much to give the tree a drink at this time as to help settle the soil close to the roots.

I surrounded the tree base with bark chips, these help to suppress weeds and keep the soil moist after rain. A spiral rabbit guard has been wrapped around the trunk, though of course is not needed if you don't have rabbits.

Finally I cut the top of the stake off as it was too long, in this case sticking up above the crown (where the branches emerge from the trunk) where it could have interfered with growth or rubbed against the branches when the wind blew causing them injury.

The stake should be left in place for at least two years, occasionally checking the tie doesn't get too tight and loosening it if it does, though commercial ties are often designed to expand with the tree or break if they become too tight.

The rabbit guard can be left in place for longer and expands with the tree. As the tree gets older, the bark becomes tougher and the rabbits will leave it alone.

The tree should be watered during dry spells over the period of the next year whenever it has leaves. An occasional soak (half to one bucketful once a week or fortnight) is preferable to little and often as the latter can encourage the tree to make shallow roots rather than deeper roots that go looking for water. In the second year, it should be able to look after itself, though give it a good soak during any very dry spells that may arise, though less so than the first year.

The base should be kept free of grass and weeds for at least two years. Using bark chips as here helps suppress weeds and the space around the tree makes mowing easier if it is planted in a lawn.

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