Planting New Trees
Planting trees in your yard can add shade, reduce noise, and add value to your home. Taking care when planting and growing a new tree is essential to its survival. The first few years are crucial. Caring for your trees, pruning when necessary and adequate watering will help them thrive.
Decide what types of trees grow well in your growing zone. Take photos or draw pictures of what you hope the trees will look like in your yard at maturity. Choose the right shape of tree, not only for the aesthetic value, but also to fit a mature tree into your available space. The shapes you will be considering include round, oval, pyramidal, columnar and v-shaped. Select trees according to canopy size, not just height.
No tree should be planted closer than eight feet from your home or other structures. Only small trees should be planted this close. Fifteen feet is recommended for medium sized trees while twenty feet is a good minimum distance for large trees.
Check with authorities about rules concerning tree planting. You do not want to plant a tree near an intersection where it could hinder drivers from seeing on-coming traffic. Sewer lines, underground cable and gas lines should be avoided. Make sure that the roots of your new trees will not interfere with your septic system, driveway or water lines. Keep the eight to twenty foot rule in mind when avoiding structures that could be damaged by an expanding root system. If you plant in an inappropriate area, your tree could be removed by city workers.
Plant your tree just deep enough to cover all of the roots and very little of the trunk. Dig a hole much bigger across than you will need. Turning all of the soil for a few feet away from the tree will help the roots take hold and spread. Using this turning technique can help your tree grow twice as fast and live twice as long. Use a tiller for optimal results.
Once planted, you will need to mulch the area around the bottom of the tree. This is essential because newly planted trees are very delicate and can easily dry out and die. Mulch acts as a good insulator, holds in plenty of moisture and prevents the soil from becoming compacted.
Watering is of great importance for the first few years of a trees life. After planting, saturate the soil with water, letting it soak down past the rootball. Water, to this depth, once a week unless you have been getting heavy rains. If you live in a very dry or hot area, water only in the morning and up to three times per week. Keep a garden hose reel handy so that you will remember to water your new trees.
Decide what types of trees grow well in your growing zone. Take photos or draw pictures of what you hope the trees will look like in your yard at maturity. Choose the right shape of tree, not only for the aesthetic value, but also to fit a mature tree into your available space. The shapes you will be considering include round, oval, pyramidal, columnar and v-shaped. Select trees according to canopy size, not just height.
No tree should be planted closer than eight feet from your home or other structures. Only small trees should be planted this close. Fifteen feet is recommended for medium sized trees while twenty feet is a good minimum distance for large trees.
Check with authorities about rules concerning tree planting. You do not want to plant a tree near an intersection where it could hinder drivers from seeing on-coming traffic. Sewer lines, underground cable and gas lines should be avoided. Make sure that the roots of your new trees will not interfere with your septic system, driveway or water lines. Keep the eight to twenty foot rule in mind when avoiding structures that could be damaged by an expanding root system. If you plant in an inappropriate area, your tree could be removed by city workers.
Plant your tree just deep enough to cover all of the roots and very little of the trunk. Dig a hole much bigger across than you will need. Turning all of the soil for a few feet away from the tree will help the roots take hold and spread. Using this turning technique can help your tree grow twice as fast and live twice as long. Use a tiller for optimal results.
Once planted, you will need to mulch the area around the bottom of the tree. This is essential because newly planted trees are very delicate and can easily dry out and die. Mulch acts as a good insulator, holds in plenty of moisture and prevents the soil from becoming compacted.
Watering is of great importance for the first few years of a trees life. After planting, saturate the soil with water, letting it soak down past the rootball. Water, to this depth, once a week unless you have been getting heavy rains. If you live in a very dry or hot area, water only in the morning and up to three times per week. Keep a garden hose reel handy so that you will remember to water your new trees.
