Lesson 6: Trees And Shrubs
Proper Planting Techniques
Planting a tree takes a little planning and thought. Two or three weeks before planting the new sapling, prepare the site. Any amendments should be well dug in and left to season. It’s wise to dig a test hole and fill it with water. This will tell you if drainage is adequate on the site.
Buy your trees balled in burlap or bare root. Container trees are often badly root bound and stressed. Fall is the ideal time to get your trees established well. When you bring the plants home, unwrap and soak in a bucket of rooting hormone to rehydrate the roots. Overnight is ideal, but at least a minimum of 3 hours. Prune out any badly damaged roots.
Center the tree in the planting hole. Don’t add any additional fertilizers or amendments. This can badly burn the young roots. Make certain the tree is level before starting to backfill the hole. Only use the surrounding soil. Fill in one third and tamp down the soil gently, to remove air pockets. Fill in another third, and repeat the process. Once the hole is filled in, tamp down once more. Create a shallow basin for watering and fill. Once it drains, use mulch to insulate and hold down weeds.
Use Tanglefoot around the base of a young tree to repel insects. If the western side of the young tree gets too much sun, you can coat it with a thin layer of white latex paint. It won’t hurt the tree and will reflect the sun, preventing bark scald.
Trees are a big investment. By choosing wisely and planting them correctly, you will enjoy their shade and beauty for a long, long time.
Assignment: Research which trees grow well in your planting zone.
