Proper Tree Planting Procedures

The best advice one could ever be given in this field is to hire a qualified professional horticulturist when landscaping their yard. Many of Terra Landscaping's projects include clean-ups, where they are called to repair the damage that another company has done to a property. Sometimes it takes years to detect a faulty or low quality service. Because of the complexity of the Horticulture industry, the lack of standard and high numbers of landscape companies operating today, it is very difficult to measure the services offered other than looking at price. This low price is frequently the only criteria used when hiring a landscape contractor and very often, the homeowner is involved in a legal battle, and/or pays twice for a service that initially, should have been properly completed. On a surface, many tasks are so simple that anyone can do them. Planting trees is one of these tasks, however, the decline of health and eventual death of trees are attributed to improper planting practices.

The hole dug for a tree must be cone-shaped, and be approximately 1.5 times the size of the root ball to allow room to work backfill around it. When the vegetation is planted, the grade should be even with the original soil line on the tree trunk. Before planting a tree in clay, the subsoil should be broken down. The sides of the planting pit should be scarified, allowing for better drainage, a place for the roots to anchor themselves and where they can penetrate the soil as they grow. Otherwise, the roots will girdle the tree.

Prior planting, it is important to remove all metal, plastic or other impervious containers. Once the tree is in the hole, the strings, ropes and ties must be cut and removed. If the tree is in a wire basket, the burlap and wire mesh should then be cut as low as possible (at least to a depth of half the size of the root ball) and also removed. All the gaps should be half-filled with soil mixed with fertilizer and organic matter. Water is added at a slow drip to help the tree settle in the hole, and to fill any air pockets. After the water has drained, more soil is added to reach the final grade. The soil surrounding the hole should be broken down with a shovel to provide good contact with the root ball and ensure the elimination of air pockets.

Any tags on the vegetation should be removed, as should any branches broken during transportation.

A tree is tied or guyed only when needed and these supports should not be tight.

In conclusion, there are many procedures involved with proper tree planting. It is important to handle and install the new vegetation as to not impede their survival.