Planting Guidelines
Essential Information for Planting Success
Know Your Planting Conditions
Prepare The Soil
Planting
CONTAINER PLANTS
Remove the plant from the container.
Gently loosen roots all the way around the sides and bottom of the root ball. Typically your hands can do the trick, however a soil knife can be used if needed.
Place the plant in the hole, flush with the surrounding soil or just slightly above.
BALL & BURLAP GROWN PLANTS
Place the plant in the hole, flush with the surrounding soil or just slightly above.
Remove twine and pull the burlap away from the trunk at least below the soil surface. You do not need to entirely remove the burlap, and we actually encourage you don’t, it will break down in the soil over time.
Backfill the hole with the existing or amended soil and cover the top of the root ball with 1/2” of soil and pack down firmly.
Give the plant a good soaking. Slow-dripping water over the base of the plant is best. Let it soak in deep. Use Ferti-lome® Root Stimulator & Plant Starter Solution to help roots establish quickly and reduce transplant shock.
Apply a layer of mulch 2” deep around the base of the plant. Taper mulch at least 1-2” away from the trunk to avoid pests and excessive moisture.
Sustain and Maintain
PROTECT
We highly recommend giving all young trees (6” caliper or less) a deer guard to protect their trunks from deer antler rubs and other wildlife injuries.
If your new tree has a dense crown of leaves that is un-proportional to the root system, or is in a windy area, it may benefit from staking. Staking these plants will allow their root systems to properly establish without the root ball moving around too much in the soil. Don’t think just because your plant is young, with an unestablished root system that it needs to be staked. Trunk movement actually encourages root growth and development. It’s only recommended to stake if necessary.
WATER
Keep the soil around the base of you new planting moist-not wet, not dry. Weather, soil type and plant selection are all factors that determine watering requirements. We recommend giving new plants a good soak at least once a week, but more often during hot, dry periods. Continue watering from time to time during their first 1-2 years of being installed. Even well-established plants benefit from supplemental irrigation during hot, dry periods. Over-watering can cause just as much damage as under-watering. When in doubt, feel your soil to check moisture. If it seems moist, you don’t need to water, if it feels dry, thoroughly water.