Planting Trees
Planting trees in your landscape increases the property value and may help in decreasing your utility bills. Properly placed trees, on the south and west side of the home, decreases the amount of sunlight reaching the home's outside surface. Adding trees to the landscape can increase your property value up to 21 percent. Site selection for specific trees may be important for certain species. The overall method for placing that tree in the soil follows the same basic instructions.
List:
Shovel
Water
Mulch
Select the site location that is best for that particular species. If you are unsure, contact your local agricultural extension service. The extension agent will have the specific information for certain tree species.
Mark an area, with the shovel, five times the diameter of the root ball on the tree. Loosen the soil in this area by plunging the blade of the shovel 8 inches deep, and moving it back and forth.
Locate the center of the planting area. Dig a hole twice the diameter of the root ball and as deep. Remove the soil from the hole.
Rough up the sides of the dug hole with the shovel blade. Eliminate all smooth sides to the new tree hole.
Remove the tree from the container. For burlapped or wrapped trees, remove all wires holding the burlap around the root ball. Set the root ball into the dug hole. Keep the top soil-line of the tree, in-line with the native soil-line.
Fill in 2 to 3 inches of the native soil around the root ball. Adjust the trunk so it sets straight up and down. Tamp the soil into place with your feet to remove air pockets. Continue to fill in the soil and tamp until the hole is full.
Water the new tree into the planting hole. Add enough water to remove air from around the roots and increase soil contact.
Layer 3 to 4 inches of mulch around the tree, covering all of the loosened soil area from Step 2. Keep the mulch 4 to 5 inches away from the main trunk to reduce pest infestation..
Words to the Wise:
Keep tree plantings 30 feet from all buildings and overhead power lines. Check with any local regulations concerning planting trees too close to sidewalks and street curbs, as the roots will damage these surfaces.
