Planting trees is a fun and rewarding way to make your yard or community more beautiful and green. It’s crucial to avoid common mistakes people make when planting containerized trees. For instance, if the tree has circling roots, the roots will grow in circles. Eventually, the roots choke the tree.
To fix this problem, loosen the root ball and cut some of the circling roots.
Use an air spade to loosen the soil around the root ball. Doing so helps to encourage the roots to grow outward into the surrounding soil. Once you prep the root, mix a special soil mixture for the tree.
The mixture includes gravel to help with drainage and prevent the soil from becoming compacted. Then, plant the tree in a hole that’s at least twice the size of the root ball. It’s important not to bury the root flare (the base of the trunk where the roots spread out) too deep. After planting the tree, water it thoroughly and add a layer of mulch around the base.
The mulch helps retain moisture, regulate soil temperature, and suppress weeds. However, don’t pile the mulch too high on the trunk. Stakes the tree to help it stay upright during the first year. Remove the stakes after the tree gets established.
Use two or three stakes and soft ties to support the tree. The ties shouldn’t be too tight. After the first year, you can remove the stakes. Protect the tree from animals by using a tree guard or fence. Watch this video to see how local arborists do it.
