{"id":20547,"date":"2025-12-14T18:04:41","date_gmt":"2025-12-14T18:04:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sandonspaldingstaging.com\/DirtDr\/Organic%20Guides\/tree-newsletter-planting-series\/"},"modified":"2025-12-14T18:04:42","modified_gmt":"2025-12-14T18:04:42","slug":"tree-newsletter-planting-series","status":"publish","type":"organicguides","link":"https:\/\/sandonspaldingstaging.com\/DirtDr\/organicguides\/tree-newsletter-planting-series\/","title":{"rendered":"Tree Newsletter Planting Series"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Tree – Newsletter Planting Series<\/span><\/strong><\/h2>\n

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\n\u00ac\u2020 Illustration\u00ac\u2020of how trees should be planted.\u00ac\u2020<\/p>\n

1. DIGGING THE HOLE<\/strong><\/p>\n

This is the first in a series of newsletters that should help explain my tree planting information in more detail than ever before. The first step<\/a> is to dig the hole the correct size and shape. Before even starting to dig the hole, the actual height of the root ball needs to be established. Most trees, in containers and balled and burlapped, have excess soil on the top of the true root ball. The excess soil needs to be removed.<\/p>\n

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Now you can measure the width and the depth of the actual root ball. Dig a very wide, rough-sided hole, 2 to 3 times wider than the tree ball, especially at the soil surface. Square-shaped holes also work. The point is to have well aerated soil around the new root ball and to prevent the roots from circling in the hole.<\/p>\n

Digging a small, smooth-sided hole is the worst thing you can do. The width of the bottom of the hole isn’t as important as the top of the hole. The depth of the hole should be slightly less than the height of the ball. Measure don’t guess.<\/p>\n

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\n\u00ac\u2020 \u00ac\u2020The worst tree hole is small and round, and holes dug with augers are worse than those dug with shovels.<\/p>\n

The top of the root ball should be sticking out of the ground about 2 after planting. The bottom of the root ball should be sitting on firm undisturbed soil. When you over-dig and have to put backfill under the ball, the tree can settle. THIS IS A COMMON CAUSE OF ROOT FLARES BEING TOO DEEP IN THE GROUND. If fill under the ball is unavoidable, tamp the soil to compact it before planting. If you set the ball too low in the first place, that can be even worse. It’s best to set trees and other woody plants 2-3 higher than ground grade (even higher with larger root balls) to allow for settling and\/or being planted too low.<\/p>\n

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\nOne of the results of planting in a small, smooth-sided hole.<\/p>\n

2. PERK TEST<\/strong><\/p>\n

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This is the second in a series of newsletters that should help explain my tree planting information in more detail than ever before. A percolation test, or perk test, is a way to evaluate the absorption rate and\/or drainage of the soil.<\/p>\n

When time allows after digging the hole and before the tree is planted, fill the hole with water and wait until the next day. If the water level does not substantially drain away overnight, a drainage problem that would negatively affect most trees is indicated. For wet soil-adapted trees like bald cypress and willows, this procedure isn’t necessary.<\/p>\n

At this point, the tree needs to be moved to another location or have drainage added in the form of a PVC drain line set in gravel running from the bottom of the hole to a lower point on the site. Another draining method that sometimes works is a pier hole dug down from the bottom of the hole into a different soil type and filled with lava gravel. A sump from the top of the ball down to the bottom of the ball does little if any good. In my opinion, this is a waste of money and might have a negative impact on the tree.<\/p>\n

Positive drainage is critical, so do not shortcut this step. For soils where the water doesn’t drain away well, spraying the sides of the holes with 3% – 5% hydrogen peroxide will help initial root establishment. Hydrogen peroxide is especially good for tree holes dug in hard clay soils. It loosens the wall of the hole and creates a more receptive surface for the tree roots to enter.<\/p>\n

3. PLANT HIGH<\/strong><\/p>\n

Most trees are planted too deep in the ground.\u00ac\u2020The root flare is part of the trunk and should be placed above ground. Remove burlap, excess soil and mulch from the surface to expose the true top of the ball.\u00ac\u2020The top of the root ball should be slightly higher than ground grade.<\/p>\n

4. BACKFILL WITH EXISTING SOIL<\/strong><\/p>\n

Remove the excess soil from the top of the root ball and remove the “bird’s nest” or circling roots.\u00ac\u2020Place the tree in the center of the hole, making sure that the top of the ball is slightly higher than the surrounding grade. Backfill with the soil that was removed from the hole.\u00ac\u2020This is a critical point.\u00ac\u2020Do not add sand, foreign soil, organic matter or fertilizer into the backfill.\u00ac\u2020The roots need to start growing in the native soil from the beginning.\u00ac\u2020 When the hole is dug in solid rock, topsoil from the same area should be used.\u00ac\u2020Some native rock mixed into the backfill is beneficial.\u00ac\u2020Adding amendments such as peat moss, sand or foreign soils to the backfill not only wastes money, but is detrimental to the tree.\u00ac\u2020Putting gravel in the bottom of the hole is a total waste of money.<\/p>\n

When planting balled and burlapped plants, leave burlap on the sides of the ball after planting, but loosen at the trunk and remove the burlap from the top of the ball.\u00ac\u2020Remove any nylon or plastic covering or string, since these materials do not decompose and can girdle the trunk and roots as the plant grows.\u00ac\u2020Studies have shown that even wire mesh should be removed to avoid root girdling because wire does not break down very fast.<\/p>\n

When planting from plastic containers, carefully remove plants and tear the outside roots if they have grown solidly against the container. Never leave plants in containers.\u00ac\u2020Bare-rooted, balled and burlapped as well as\u00ac\u2020container plant materials should be planted the same way.\u00ac\u2020When planting bare-rooted plants, it is critical to keep the roots moist during the transportation and planting process.<\/p>\n

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\n\u00ac\u2020 Closer detail of the bottom of the tree planting illustration\u00ac\u2020<\/p>\n

5. SETTLE SOIL WITH WATER<\/strong><\/p>\n

Water the backfill very carefully, making sure to get rid of all air pockets.\u00ac\u2020Do not tamp the soil or air pockets will be formed and roots will be killed in these spots.<\/p>\n

6.\u00ac\u2020 DO NOT WRAP OR STAKE<\/strong><\/p>\n

Trunks of newly planted trees should not be wrapped. It is a waste of money, looks unattractive, harbors insects and leaves the bark weak when removed.\u00ac\u2020Tree wrapping is similar to a bandage left on your finger too long. If you are worried about the unlikely possibility of sunburn, it is much better to paint the trunk with a diluted latex paint that matches the color of the bark. White is OK too.<\/p>\n

Staking and guying is usually unnecessary if the tree has been planted properly with the proper earth ball size of at least 9″ of ball for each 1″ of trunk diameter.\u00ac\u2020Staking is a waste of money and detrimental to the proper trunk development of the plant.\u00ac\u2020In rare circumstances (sandy soil, tall evergreen trees, etc.) where the tree needs to be staked for a while, connect the guy wires as low on the trunk as possible and remove the stakes as soon as possible. Never leave them on more than one growing season.\u00ac\u2020Temporary staking should be done with strong wire and metal eyebolts screwed into the trunk. Staking should only be done as a last resort – it is unsightly, expensive, adds to mowing and trimming costs, and restricts the tree’s ability to develop tensile strength in the trunk and trunk diameter.\u00ac\u2020It can also cause damage to the cambium layer.\u00ac\u2020Remove all tags.<\/p>\n

7. DO NOT PRUNE<\/strong><\/p>\n

It is very bad advice to prune at planting to compensate for the loss of roots during transplanting or planting. \u00ac\u2020Most trees fare much better if all the limbs and foliage are left intact.\u00ac\u2020The more foliage, the more food can be produced to build the root system. Even low limbs and foliage should be left on the tree for at least two growing seasons to aid root development. The health of the root system is the key to the overall health of the tree. The only trees that seem to respond positively to thinning at the time of transplanting are field-collected live oak, yaupon holly and a few other evergreens.\u00ac\u2020Plants purchased in containers definitely need no pruning, and deciduous trees never need to be thinned.<\/p>\n

8. MULCH THE TOP OF BALL<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mulch the top of the ball after planting with 1″ of compost and then 3″ of mulch tapering to 0″ at the tree trunk.\u00ac\u2020 This step is important in lawn areas or in beds.\u00ac\u2020 Do not ever plant grass over the tree ball until the tree is established.<\/p>\n

People don’t grow trees.\u00ac\u2020Trees grow in spite of people. For the most part, trees are tough, durable and easy to plant and transplant if treated in a sensible and natural way.<\/p>\n