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Feed the Tree
Good fertile soil will result in a healthy, attractive tree. Add compost to the topsoil and mix thoroughly. Artificial fertiliser can be easily overdone, and the tree roots can be burnt or the tree can make rapid, lush growth depleting energy reserves.
Compost, a little blood and bone or slow release fertiliser, will encourage good long-term growth and the development of a good, strong root system. This will result in a far better, healthy and long-lived tree.
Planting Depth
Place the tree, still in the planter bag for container grown trees, in the centre of the hole. Lay a stake or the shovel handle across the planting hole to assess the depth. This should be level with the soil level in the planting bag or the mark on a barefoot tree trunk. If not, back fill to achieve the right depth.
Slit the planter bag with a knife and remove from container-grown trees, support bare root trees in the hole and begin to fill with soil.
As you go, firm the soil into place around the tree without compacting it. Use your boot and tread firmly without tramping the earth solid.
Fill the hole to the same level on the trunk as the soil in the container or the soil mark on a bare-rooted tree. You can lay a cane over the hole to ensure that you achieve the desired result. Don't over fill, take excess soil and use it elsewhere, even adding it to the compost heap.
Mulch and Water
Mulch the tree with 5-8cm (2-3in) of bark, pea-straw or other material to deter weeds and help retain moisture in the soil around the tree.
Water thoroughly.
Tie the tree to the stake with a tree tie. Ties should be stretchy; strips of rubber are often used and even pantyhose will suffice. Make sure that the ties are firmly tied but not so tightly that they 'strangle' the tree.
After care
Remember to water your tree whenever it is dry, come spring and in the growing season. The tree will need water until established, that is for the first one to two years at least.
Take care not to over-water in cold and freezing weather as you can freeze the roots damaging them. For larger trees or those in exposed site, a length of pipe placed in the hole at planting time will allow you water to the trees root system in the first, vulnerable year.
In all but the most exposed sites, remove the tree ties after a year. The tree should be able to stand on its own and must develop a good root system if it is to flourish in the long term.
Check tree ties every few months to ensure that they are not rubbing or cutting into the tree.
Enjoy
A tree is one of the most significant planting in any garden, and apart form the cost, the growing years are important. So, plant well and enjoy! |
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Use a stake to check the depth, and adjust
Fix the stakes firmly, before planting
Firm the soil with your boot
Mulch, water and tie firmly
Enjoy! Here Acer palmatum, Japanese maple
Heel-in Bare Root Plants
 If you cannot plant bare root plants immediately, because the ground is frozen, drought or simple lack of time, then you should heel them in.
Dig a trench in a shaded, empty border or the vegetable garden and, laying the plants at a 45o angle, cover them with soil and firm gently.
Plants can be left for some days, or several weeks, after heeling in, as long as you ensure that they do not dry out.
Make sure that you plant them in their permanent home before the new seasons growth begins. |
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