The Tree Planting Basics – Some Tips Digging the hole can be the hardest part of planting a tree. The hole you dig will be the home for this tree for the rest of its life, so it is important to do it right. Tools we use: Round point shovel, Digging bar, post hole digger, pick, tree shovel. If the soil is hard, sometimes we can add water to moisten and loosen up the soil. Use the pot the tree comes in to measure the depth of the hole. Don’t dig the hole too deep! Keep the soil you dig out close by – you will be reusing it to plant the tree and construct a basin around the tree for holding water. Digging the Hole Not too deep! Teamwork Essential Teamwork is required! Twice the Volume Bound Roots Loosen Roots Correct! The hole should be twice the *volume of the pot that the tree came in. Sometimes we may want to put some fertilizer in the hole before we put the tree in. *not twice as deep! Often, the roots are bound up in the pot. If we leave them like this the roots won’t spread out and grow like they should. It is good to loosen them up a little before putting the tree in the hole. Wrong! Too Deep. Backfill When you set the tree root ball into the hole, the top of the root ball should be slightly higher than the rim of the hole to allow for some settling. If the hole is too deep and the crown of the tree (the part of the tree where the trunk emerges from the root ball) is too deep, the tree will rot and die. When we back fill the hole with soil, keep the tree upright and steady. This is where teamwork is needed. Page Two – Tips for Planting Trees Check the tree to be sure it is upright and not planted too deep. Upright & Not Too Deep Loosen Soil Once the tree is in the ground, it helps to loosen up the soil around the tree basin. Water Well Once the tree is in the ground, we want to be sure the soil is packed in around the root ball. On a Slope After we plant the tree, we need to water it in really well. Often, the soil will settle and additional soil may need to be added. On a slope, be sure the dish around the tree is wide and level so that when we water, the water will go down to the tree roots. Mulch Ring After the tree is planted, it is helpful to add a layer of mulch around the tree. Staking the Tree A final step involves staking the tree to protect it from winds. Job Well Done! Everybody Celebrate a Job Well Done!