Whether you’re looking for shade or just want a nursery yard. Trees can add beauty and value to your home. If you want to give your new tree a great start so let us take you to the steps to choice and plant a tree that will keep looking for years to come. Of course the single most important step is choosing a location that’s right for your home and the tree you’ve select.
Now, first a few days before you plant your tree call 811 to reach your local utility companies. Then mark where a central services like gasoline and water might run to your yard, but you should avoid digging. Also, check your local zoning laws. Some of these regulate where trees can and can’t be planted.
Now, once you have an area in mind. Keep an eye on the space to see how much sun it typically gets throughout the day. Then use this information to select a tree that likes full sun, part sun or shade.
Next, think about the type of tree you want. Different trees require different commitment they maybe fall on leaves, seed part or even fruit to consider. Most trees at the garden center are labeled with the size of a mature plant. Make sure this size won’t interfere with the area around it. Over head wires, your home’s roof lawn or rather landscaping.
Then there’s climate. There are 11 hardiness zones to North America. Check out Lowes.com/plants for some options that do well in your zone. It’s best to select trees that are native to the area. Once you determine the where and the what don’t forget to pick up the how, your tools For this project you’ll need your trees, a few bags of topsoil that’s specially blended for trees and shrubs. A shovel, a pickax if your ground is particularly hard or rocky, a utility knife, a wheelbarrow, fertilizer, mulch, a hose or soaker hose, work gloves and safety glasses. We’ll also show you how to plant spring bulbs. A good time to plant trees is during the dormant season. In the fall, after the leaves drop or in spring before buds break, this allows the root a chance to establish before the hard freeze of winter or the dry heat of summer.
Now, in the Southern U.S. planting can be done in winter. Palm trees are not an exemption. They should be planted in the warmer summer months.
To get started, dig your hole about two times the width and the exact depth of the root ball or container your tree comes in. Combine that soil with the special soil blend to create the 50-50 mix. Now, if your soil is particularly rich you can escape this step. If you have a compost pile, you can mix in a few scopes of that as well. This will help encourage your trees root system to thrive. You can also weed special fertilizer.
For more information about fertilizers check out the printable instructions for this project at Lowes.com/Videos, loose a bit of the soil at the bottom end sides of the hole with your shovel. Then temporary place the tree to double check that the hole is deep enough, if your tree comes in a plastic container use utility knife to gently cut it off working from the top to bottom on two sides. Then lift the tree out holding out on the thickest part of the trunk. Place it in the hole and use your hands to gently loosen the roots, this will help the roots grow out. If your tree comes in a burlap root ball you can simply drop it in the hole as is. Burlap is a natural material and will decay overtime. Just untie it and remove any string. Unlike trees in the container the roots in burlap should already be separated.
Now, double check to make sure the trunk is straight as possible. Rotate and tilt the tree in the hole until you’re happy with its placement. Also, check that the top of the root crown is level with the ground then stand back to double check. With you tree in places it’s time to get back fill the hole with your topsoil or mixture. You want to make sure you fill around the roots, gently top the soil down to remove air pockets.
We’re planting our tree in the fall, which is also the best time to plant spring bulbs. Now, we want to make sure we place the bulbs out away from the delicate root ball. The general rule of thumb is to plant the bulb two to three times as deep as the bulb is tall but check the package for specific instructions. So, we dig our hole and place the bulb no side up. Then cover with dirt. With our tree and bulbs in place, cover the entire area with about two inches of mulch. This is especially important with bulb planting in cold weather climates because it protects the roots during the winter.
Now, you might wonder if your trees need to be stake. Well, it’s not always necessary but it does provide extra support especially in areas of high wind. See the printable instructions for more information.
Now, we’re in the most important steps, watering. After your tree is first planted give it a good two to three inches of water or direct watering for about two minutes. Then be sure to water it two to three times a week for the first year even more in dry weather.
Another option is to use a soaker hose around the perimeter. When set up with the timer this will water your tree evenly and shut off automatically.
With the great start your tree will be healthy and strong. Remember Lowes is here to help with ideas and how to’s to keep your property looking great. Just check the lines of our projects at Lowes.com/Vidoes.
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