Heston's Tree Planting Checklist
Select Quality Stock
- Purchase trees from a reputable nursery.
- Select well-trained, healthy trees with good form and labeled
with their Latin names.
- Make sure trees are protected during transport.
Determine Planting Depth
Dig the Hole
- The wider the better
- Make arrangements to haul away extra soil instead of piling it
around the tree.
Remove the Twine
or Container
- Remove tree from plastic container or if balled and burlapped
remove twine from around the trunk.
- Twine can girdle the tree as the trunk grows.
Inspect the Roots
- Check for and remove potential girdling roots.
Water
Mulch
- 2-3 inches maximum of hardwood bark mulch is the best.
- Leave an inch or two free around the trunk so that the tree
doesn’t respond as if it is planted too deeply.
Remove Tree Wrap
- We once thought this was for the good of the trees. It actually
does little if anything to reduce sunscald and often times ends up
holding in moisture.
- Another problem is that a lot of tree wrap is tied on with
twine. Folks often forget to take them off resulting in girdled
trunks.
Stake Only When Necessary
- Research indicates that staked trees lack the
trunk strength of their un-staked
counterparts. If you have good stock and the tree is planted
correctly, then staking is usually
unnecessary.
- Trees planted in sandier soil, on windy sites, or larger trees
with a heavy crown may need to be staked for 6-12 months until some
roots are established.
©
2008 Heston's Greenhouse & Florist
