How To Plant a Tree

Dig a small sample of the soil and take a look. If it is heavy with clay or very sandy, plan to add one part compost to every three parts soil that you shovel out.

Check for wires and pipes above and below your site. If there are wires above, you may still be able to plant a low-growing tree.

Visit a local nursery and pick out a sapling, ideally one five to six feet tall. Match the tree’s preferred soil type and sun exposure to the site you have chosen.

Dig a hole no higher than the root ball but at least twice as wide.

Quickly remove the root ball from its container and gently straighten the roots as needed. If the roots are wrapped in burlap, let it fall to the bottom of the hole.

Place the tree in the hole, then stand back to see if it is straight. Adjust as needed.

Replace soil around the roots. The flare, where the roots spread at the tree’s base, should be just above the soil line.

Pack the soil around the tree firmly but gently with hands and feet to fill in any air pockets, but not so hard that water can’t get in.

Spread mulch two inches deep in a ring about two feet in diameter around the tree, but not within a few inches of the trunk. Mulch can be wood chips, pine needles, grass clippings, or fallen leaves.

Water your tree when it doesn’t rain. A young tree will need to be watered about every week for the first year.

Protect your tree from strong winds by tying two stakes to the trunk. If you have deer in the area, wrap the trunk loosely with wire mesh hardware cloth, especially in winter.