Time to Plant Some Trees

Well its spring time and I'm sure you're getting the itch to be outside and working on your garden, pick up your yard, and get ready for outdoor projects after the long winter, especially up here in the Northeast. One outside project that people like to do and is the perfect time to do right now is planting a tree. There are multiple reasons for planting trees such as: saving a household's heating and cooling energy consumption, trees also clean the air by absorbing pollutants and carbon dioxide while producing oxygen, they provide shelter and food for wildlife, help save water by slowing evaporation, and provide food when planting fruit or nut trees.

Choosing the right tree is where your homework comes into play. Once you've decided on the reason why you're planting a tree, you need to figure out what type of tree will best fulfill your needs. If you're planting for energy savings, then you need to select a large deciduous tree, which will shade your home spring through fall while allowing the sun to shine through in the winter once its leaves have fallen. If you're looking for shade, choose a tree with a broad canopy, and if you want shade year-round, then select a tree that's evergreen and won't lose its leaves in winter. Make sure to pick a tree with the right color in mind for summer and fall foliage that fits your liking. Fruit trees give a double bonus by providing food and beauty with their spring flowers and fall foliage. Also keep tidiness in mind when picking out a tree, some trees are messier than others. If you're planting a tree near a pool, select one that won't produce messy flowers, seedpods, or both. If planting near a pool an evergreen would be ideal for keeping the water clean.

Planting is best done while the tree is dormant. This is either in the fall after the leaves have dropped or in early spring just before the leaf buds begin to swell. Planting trees during this time gives the roots time to grow before the warmer weather stimulates new top growth. Trees can be planted at any time of the year but extra care is needed to be sure they are adequately watered during their first summer.

When planting a tree, the hole's size plays a major role in how quickly a tree establishes itself and grows. The hole should be three times wider than the trees root ball and shaped like a saucer. This allows for good root growth and development, because the majority of a tree's roots grow outward into the top foot of soil where oxygen is at high levels. The hole should be the same depth as the root ball or even slightly shallower. Trees don't like to be planted too deeply because it decreases the amount of oxygen available to the roots. Also, trees tend to settle a little lower after being planted. When picking the planting site remove any excess soil on top of the root ball, place the tree in the center of the hole. Fill the hole with the same soil that was dug out, after filling in the hole create a berm around the hole which will hold water to help it permeate deeply around the tree and water immediately after planting to settle the soil and get rid of air pockets. No fertilizer or any other amendments should be added during planting or for the first year, as this could hurt the tree's roots. New trees will need more water for the first year to help them get established, especially the first few weeks after planting. Add a 2 to 4 inch layer of mulch, compost, or wood chips around the tree. Keep the mulch 6 inches away from the trunk to prevent fungal disease or insect problems.