#1 - Prepare your hole ahead of time, following the below estimated hole sizes. To get a head start on watering,
you can fill your hole partially with water ahead of planting, and let it soak into the ground.
#2 - Once your tree arrives at your site, and is set into your hole, make sure that the tree is sitting at proper grade (either at grade with the topsoil or grass, or at the proposed grade). You do not want the tree sitting too deep, as this will suffocate (drown) your plant. If you have dug too deep of a hole, and have filled it in with new material, it may be necessary to set your tree slightly (1-1.5 inch) above grade, as settling may occur.
#3 - Use fresh, dark screened topsoil or loam, to back fill the hole about one-third to half way full. Pack this soil using your boots, or poking it down with the handle side of a shovel, ensuring no air pockets remain.
#4 - Now cut and remove all white strapping from the top of the wire basket. Cut off the top third of the wire basket, using wire or bolt cutters. Watch for sharp edges after cutting the top of the basket off
#5 - Carefully peel back the burlap from the top third of the root ball, and cut it off, along the same line you snipped the basket. The remaining burlap will decompose over the next few years.
#6 - Finish backfilling around the rootball with a good soil as mentioned above. Again, ensure that the soil has been thoroughly packed in firmly around the tree so that there are no air pockets. Add soil as needed and compact again, until hole is full.
#7 - It is now advisable to create a dirt water well around your tree, especially if the tree has been placed in a non-irrigated area. This is done by building up a circle of dirt, about 3-5 inches tall, around the outer edge of your hole. Its purpose is to catch and hold water, allowing it to seep deeper into the rootball soil.
#8 - Top dressing the tree with bark mulch is highly recommended, as mulch will retain moisture and prevents some weed growth. Do not place or build up the mulch directly against the trunk of the tree, and no more than 1-2 inches of mulch is needed. Too much mulch can be a bad thing, as it may retain too much moisture, leading the plant to drown
#9 - It is now time to water your tree! See our Tree Care Guide for more information on how to properly care for your newly installed plants.
#1 - Dig the hole about 1.5-2 times wider than the pot, and about 2 inches deeper than the pot.
A rough hole guideline is below:
#2 - Remove the plastic pot from the plant, and gently pull apart and massage the roots with your hands a little bit. It is also recommended to score, or slice, the roots a few times with a clean knife, from top to bottom of the rootball, to promote new root growth.
#3 - Add about 2 inches of good fresh soil into the bottom of your hole, and set your plant into the center hole, even with ground level. Make sure that the plant is sitting at proper grade with the topsoil or grass, or at the proposed grade. You do not want the plant sitting too deep, as this will suffocate (drown) your plant.
#4 - Use fresh, dark screened topsoil or loam, to back fill the hole about one-third to half way full. Pack this soil using your boots, or pushing it down with your hands, ensuring no air pockets remain.
#5 - Now finish backfilling around the rootball with a good soil as mentioned above. Again, ensure that the soil has been thoroughly packed in firmly around the plant so that there are no air pockets. Repeat adding dirt, and packing it down, until your hole is full.
#6 - It is now advisable to create a dirt water well around your plant, especially if it has been placed in a non-irrigated area. This is done by building up a circle of dirt, about 2-3 inches tall, around the outer edge of your hole. Its purpose is to catch and hold water, allowing it to seep deeper into the rootball soil.
#7 - Top dressing the planting area with bark mulch is highly recommended, as mulch will retain moisture and prevents some weed growth. Do not place or build up the mulch directly against the trunk or branches of the plant, and no more than 1 inch of mulch is needed. Too much mulch can be a bad thing, retaining too much moisture, drowning your plant.
#8 - It is now time to water your plant! See our Tree Care Guide for more information on how to properly care for your newly installed plants.
Now that your plants are installed, see our Tree Care Guide to learn about plant care techniques, such as watering, fertilizing, and pruning!