It’s been a great spring so far this year; no doubt you are eager to accomplish some chores—and perhaps just get your hands in the dirt! Perhaps the following tips will help you:

Are you planning on planting a balled & burlapped tree?

There is a much greater success rate with these than the bare root dormant trees, but success does depend on the following factors:

 1) Enough water, given regularly. Balled trees only have 10 – 65% of their roots in the ball; roots need to grow again.

 2) Plant the tree no deeper than the soil line on its trunk. (If you can’t find it, measure from the bottom of the root ball to where the roots meet the trunk, and dig the hole this deep.)

 3) The width of the hole should be twice as wide as the depth for the feeder roots to easily reach out and grow.

 4) After positioning the tree at the right level in the hole, remove the material around the root ball (wire cage/burlap/ etc.), as this slows further growth.

 5) Replace the soil in the same order as it came out, with topsoil on top. Do not amend the soil—or it will not root beyond the amended area!

 6) After tamping down the soil to remove air pockets, form a 3-5” dike around the hole to hold water. Breach it in late fall, so no ice forms around the tree base.

 7) Fill the dike with mulch, to within 2” of the trunk, to keep boring insects away.

 8) Don’t forget to water generously and frequently that first season.

And remember, if that space doesn’t fit YOU like a favorite shoe, you need a little re-design! 

                              Sharon Breay, Does the Shoe….FIT?   Programs & Workshops