Optimal Moment for Tree Planting: Steps to Ensure Your Seedling Thrives Successfully
Investing time and resources in tree planting is worthwhile, as trees contribute significantly to our environment, providing oxygen, reducing carbon dioxide levels, and enhancing the aesthetic appeal of our surroundings. Here's a step-by-step guide to planting a tree, ensuring it establishes strong roots, grows healthily, and has a good chance of long-term survival in its new environment.
**Soil Conditions and Site Preparation:**
Preparing the planting site is crucial. Remove grass, weeds, and debris to reduce competition for nutrients and water. Dig a hole wider than the root ball but no deeper, typically about two to three times the width of the root ball. This encourages root spread and ensures the root flare (where the roots spread at the base of the trunk) is slightly above ground level to avoid burying it too deep, which can cause rot. Break up soil clumps to create a fine, porous texture that improves water infiltration and aeration.
**Tree Selection:**
Choose a tree species suited to your local climate, soil type, and site exposure for optimal growth and survival. Bare-root seedlings should ideally be planted in spring to allow root establishment before extreme cold or heat; fall planting is generally not recommended except in mild climates. For enhanced survival on poor or harsh soils, consider mycorrhizal inoculated trees, which have beneficial fungi that aid nutrient uptake.
**Planting Method:**
Remove the tree carefully from its container or burlap bag; if the root ball is tight, gently slice the root ball vertically four times about 90 degrees apart to loosen roots without damaging them. Set the entire root ball into the hole, ensuring it is straight and stable. Backfill with the excavated soil, gently compacting every few inches to eliminate large air pockets while maintaining enough porosity for air and water.
**Post-Planting Maintenance:**
Water the newly planted tree deeply at the time of planting and continue watering regularly—typically once a week during warm periods—until the tree is well established or temperatures cool consistently below freezing. Mulch around the base (but not touching the trunk) with organic material such as aged straw or wood chips to conserve soil moisture, suppress weeds, and moderate soil temperature. Weed regularly around the tree to minimize competition for nutrients and water.
Avoid pruning newly planted trees; leave structural pruning to professionals unless removing damaged or dead branches. With the advent of new technology, trees can now be planted at any time, providing sound post-planting maintenance is given.
Following these steps will help ensure your tree establishes strong roots, grows healthily, and has a good chance of long-term survival in its new environment. Remember, the Chinese proverb, "The best time to plant a tree was 50 years ago; the next best time is today," encourages immediate tree planting. The planting season for trees typically starts in October and runs through to April.
When choosing a tree, consider soil conditions, attributes of the tree, and environmental factors associated with the planting site. It's important to choose good, healthy nursery stock from a reputable nursery. At Kew, the main planting season has been moved from spring to autumn.
Tree planting is a combination of art and science, and with diligent care and attention, you can help a tree thrive in its new home. The Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, allowed the use of their photographs in this feature.
Incorporating gardening into one's lifestyle, specifically tree planting, can foster a healthier home-and-garden environment by promoting the growth of beautiful plants like trees. Careful site preparation, such as removing weeds and breaking up soil clumps, enables trees to establish strong roots and establishes a solid foundation for long-term survival. Moreover, thoughtful decisions about tree selection, based on local climate, soil type, and site exposure, ensure the tree's optimal growth and overall health.
