Tree Planting Guide – 10 Basic Steps

Your choice of species and location will lead to a different set of tree planting criteria. Here is a simple tree planting guide.



If you need specific tree planting instructions, ask us at Ask an Arborist. Or find a local tree service or tree planting nursery to do the tree installation for you.



Tree Planting Guide – 10 Basic Steps



Tree Installation



1. Before digging, call your local utility to locate any buried lines and cables. This is typically a free service.



2. Make sure you look up and to each side of your planting zone.



Power lines, buildings and right of ways should be noted to avoid extra tree trimming costs and damage structures. You may still want to plant there, it’s just nice to know beforehand.



Planting a tree in a designated right of way may cede you’re authority to the city. And a right of way may overlap your property line! Check city ordinances as they may dictate what tree species you can plant and where.



Buying and Moving the Tree



Tree planting season for a bare root tree is traditionally during the root season while a containerized tree can be planted in more seasons.



3. Carry a young tree with two arms around the root ball, not by the trunk, like carrying a shovel. A young tree is more fragile than you think



4. Remove any packaging including trunk wrap. Leave any root packaging in place for now.



5. Prune critical branches.



Most trees have one central leader that forms from the trunk. If the tree has two or more potential leaders, choose the one you like and remove the other. This will promote straighter growth and more vitality.



You may trim any other dead branches but be judicious. Your newly planted tree needs as many leaves as possible to work through "transplant shock."



6. Remove soil from the top of the root ball so the main root system is revealed.



There should be several roots at least 1/8th of an inch wide. If the roots are located more than 4 inches deep, return the tree to the place of purchase. It indicates that excess topsoil was added after the tree was extracted from its initial home.



In removing the packaging, it is important not to nick the bark. For a ball-and-burlapped tree, you bend the wire basket away from the top and remove two to four inches of soil until the main root system is found.



You may have to cut some of the wire off, but leave the rest until the tree is put in the ground.



Containerized trees, will have compact soil. A saw may be the best way to remove the top layer of soil to expose the main root system.



Remove potential girdling roots with a hand pruner. These roots will extend out t then turn to the side or even back towards the trunk.



Determine How Deep and Wide to Dig



7. Measure the height of the remaining root ball.



Now that you’ve removed topsoil and roots, this is exactly how deep the hole should be dug. Measure the width of the root ball or container and multiply by 2 (if the soil is hard or compacted, multiply it by 3). This is how wide the hole should be dug.



8. Dig the hole.



You must call local utilities check for buried cables and lines. The dimensions of the hole determine whether your tree lives or dies. If you dig too deeply, the root system won’t take correctly.



9. Put the tree in the hole.



Straighten the trunk. Now is the time to remove any packaging from the balled-and-burlapped tree. Without loosening the root ball, cut, peel back and remove as much of the wire basket and burlap as possible.



If the root ball starts to fall apart, backfill with soil to stabilize it. Make sure the trunk is straight. Use the original soil. Break up clods and work it in with your hands and a shovel.



10. Water the root ball and entire backfilled, root zone area.



Put a 2-4 inch layer of mulch over the backfilled area. Pull mulch away from the trunk so fungal growth is not promoted. Four inch maximum or the mulch may cut off the oxygen.



Be precise and take your time so you don’t have to do this all over again.



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This tree article was written by the staff arborists at Ask An Arborist.net. Free answers to tree care questions.

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