Hey all - I'm planning on planting my first tree in the next couple days. From what I've heard and read there some basic must-do things:

1. Dig a hole that's about three to four times as wide as the rootball but not as deep

2. Loosen the tree roots before planting them.

3. After placing the tree in the hole, fill it about halfway, then step lightly on the soil. Fill the hole with water and allow it to soak in for about 20 minutes. After the water has drained completely, add the rest of the soil, then water again.

4. Mulch around the tree with two inches of mulch. Pull the mulch away from the trunk of the tree about two to four inches.

5. Water the tree once a week for the first year.

Are these the biggies? Anything else from your experience that you'd like to share?


Thanks!

Sounds like you are following printed directions pretty good.
One question though; you have mentioned about loosening the tree roots. This suggests you are planting a bare-rooted tree.
If this is the case, be sure to give the roots a bath of warmish water for at least two hours.
This provides an immediate shot of moisture to the tree's system.
When planted, give it another well watering.

You may notice the tree's not foliating out next spring as you might think it should.
Trees nature is to put emphasis on its roots to establish themselves to better stand up to winter. Foliage is discounted.

Use only a mimimum amount of compost or other amended soil in the hole. The thought is the tree will need to survive on the soil its roots must go out and penetrate. Make its home too good, it will refuse to leave home--you've made life too easy. So only make it easy for the immediate taking up of moisture.

Under the roots put a handful of superphosphate 0/20/0 or transplant fertilizer 10/52/10 to help the roots get established.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Hayland,

I have always initially dug it about 6 inches deeper than the rootball, and then back filled it with a mixture of some of the topsoil. This allows the roots to find easy/loosened soil to attach in all directions. I just make sure to add enough soil that the tree settles at the correct height.
The nurserymen taught me to stick a hose down to the bottom of the backfilled dirt around the root ball when first watering in too. By moving the hose down into three or four locations around the tree, it makes sure the bottom gets well watered and forces any possible air pockets out.

Peppermint, you have it pretty well in hand. However, there is some research today that indicates that loosening the roots may not be necessary. Loosening the roots of potted and balled and burlapped plants, something not needed with bare root plants, was an accepted practice when I started gardening in the 1950's.