| down soil around roots with your hands. Add water, quite a bit, this is to eliminate any air pockets that can damage the roots. Complete filling the hole with the modified soil to insure thorough contact with roots, pat gently with your hands. Do not mound soil at the base of the tree. Create a small trench around the diameter of the tree, water again, filling in that trench with water. It is a good idea to mulch (something like cypress mulch) around the base of the plant, a layer about 3-4" thick. Once again, do not mound the mulch up at the base of the tree (you probably see a lot of newly planted trees with little "volcanoes" of mulch at the base, this is incorrect and damaging to the tree). Mulching helps the soil to hold moisture, keeps the roots cooler, and keeps grass and weeds away from your tree. It also protects against people getting to close with weedeaters or lawn mowers. You may ask what about staking? I don't do it. I have never done it, I was trained not to do it. If you feel more comfortable staking your trees and aren't sure how to do it, feel free to post another question via the website and I would be happy to tell you. Your tree will grow best if thoroughly watered at least once a weak during the first 2 growing seasons. Insufficient watering is a major cause of new plantings failing. down soil around roots with your hands. Add water, quite a bit, this is to eliminate any air pockets that can damage the roots. Complete filling the hole with the modified soil to insure thorough contact with roots, pat gently with your hands. Do not mound soil at the base of the tree. Create a small trench around the diameter of the tree, water again, filling in that trench with water. It is a good idea to mulch (something like cypress mulch) around the base of the plant, a layer about 3-4" thick. Once again, do not mound the mulch up at the base of the tree (you probably see a lot of newly planted trees with little "volcanoes" of mulch at the base, this is incorrect and damaging to the tree). Mulching helps the soil to hold moisture, keeps the roots cooler, and keeps grass and weeds away from your tree. It also protects against people getting to close with weedeaters or lawn mowers. You may ask what about staking? I don't do it. I have never done it, I was trained not to do it. If you feel more comfortable staking your trees and aren't sure how to do it, feel free to post another question via the website and I would be happy to tell you. Your tree will grow best if thoroughly watered at least once a weak during the first 2 growing seasons. Insufficient watering is a major cause of new plantings failing. |
