How To Plant Trees And Shrubs

Planting a tree or shrub is pretty simple, but you need to follow a few steps do it right.

Here's how:

1. Choose the spot.

Choose a spot to plant your new tree or shrub. Make sure growing conditions match the needs of your plant. There should be enough space around the area for the tree or shrub to grow undisturbed for many years to come.

2. Dig the hole.

Make the hole twice as wide as the plant's container. This will give the roots room to grow into the good, loosened soil before venturing through into native soil. Dig the hole only as deep as the container is tall to prevent planting too deep.

The latest horticultural wisdom is that you shouldn't amend or improve the soil at all. However, if you feel you need to add something to the soil, add a spadeful or two of compost to the planting hole—it can never hurt.

3. Position the plant.

If the plant is in a plastic pot, knock it out or cut it out if it’s stuck. If the roots from a pot are pot-bound, use the shovel blade to score the root ball. This encourages feeder roots to grow beyond the root ball, establishing the plant faster. If the soil around the roots seems loose, proceed with caution and do not knock the plant out of the pot. Instead, cut away the bottom and set the plant in the hole. Slice the sides and gently remove the pot. This will help prevent damage to young roots.

If the plant is balled and burlapped, once the plant is positioned in the hole, loosen or cut away any twine or wire and cut away as much of the fabric as possible.

4. Check the depth.

Set the plant in the hole to check the depth. The top of the root ball—where stems emerge from the soil—should be level with the surface of the undisturbed ground around the hole. If it sits too low, the hole is too deep. Planting at this level causes stems to rot. Remove the plant and shovel additional soil into the bottom of the hole. Press loose soil firmly to prevent settling later. Put the plant into the hole to check the depth again. If the top of the root ball sits too high, remove the plant and dig the hole deeper or else it will tend to dry out.

5. Water and mulch.

Set the hose on the barest trickle and allow to run for a half hour to an hour—whatever it takes to thoroughly soak the soil and allow it to seep in deeply. Then add any additional soil to make the soil level immediately around the shrub and to create a "moat" of soil to allow water to collect around the shrub.

Mulch with a 2- to 3-inch layer of mulch. Water again by putting a garden hose at the base and setting it at the slightest trickle. Leave hose on for an hour or two or until water puddles.