It is a great investment in the value of your home, and a great investment in the future! What is it? Planting trees!
When deciding to plant a tree, think about the areas where you intend to plant. Look for such problems as overhead power lines. Will the tree eventually grow into the line? Check to make sure there are no underground obstacles like water, sewer, or power lines. Most utility companies can make sure the right people check this and mark the lines before you start to dig. Don't plant a tree where it's roots will invade your septic system, or crack the foundation of your home.
Think about other trees and plants nearby, and how the new addition will effect them, both now and when it grows to maturity. Will the tree "shade out" your lawn as it grows? Will it shade out other plants, and if so, will this be acceptable?
What type of soil do you have, and will you need to amend it? If so, you will need to have these things on hand.
What type of tree will you plant? Make sure that it is appropriate for your area. Check with your counties extension agency if you are not sure.
Now you have the preliminaries out of the way, dig a hole and chuck it in!!!!! NO, there is more to it than that!
Now you know where you want to plant, you have made certain that there are are no overhead or underground obstacles or dangers, you have an appropriate tree for your area and all the amendments you will need.
What are you waiting for? Dig that hole!
Dig the hole quite a bit wider than the root ball, but no deeper. This is to prevent settling. Remove the tree from the pot, if it is really root bound, you may want to disturb the root ball a bit, by separating out some of the root a little or making a few slices. Don't overdo it. Set the root ball in the hole very carefully, don't strain your back, and watch out for that pesky limb that seems to want to slap you on the noggin.
Mix some soil and some mulch material together to fill in the sides. Make sure the tree is setting straight, that is, "plumb" in the hole. Back fill with the mix and tamp it firmly in. If you are using root stimulator, and I like to use it, follow the label directions for it's use, build a small berm around the tree with the remaining soil, tamp it down, and water it in. Make sure you don't have any air pockets, fill in where needed.
If your tree needs to be staked, to keep it from being blown over in the wind, put at least two stakes down, by driving them into the ground at opposite sides, and at an angle away from the tree. Don't put much pressure on the tree when you tie it off. I usually use a short length of garden hose, slid over the rope, as a buffer between the tree and the rope. One thing you need to remember, especially if the tree isn't always in plain sight, is, not to leave the rope on the tree so long that it grows into, or as we say, "girdles" the tree. Use the berm you built as a reservoir to water the tree as needed, then pat yourself on the back, and watch it grow!
James Burns is a licensed pest control professional, has been a Certified Professional Turfgrass Manager for more than 16 years, has a lifetime of experience in horticulture and agriculture, and is the owner of Rational Environmental Solutions, an IPM based pest control company in East Texas. He also has many helpful gardening tips at texpest.com texpest.com.
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