Chester County Serbian Spruce
Chester County White Pine
Chester County White Spruce
Chester County Austrian Pine
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How To Plant Your Trees
Correct planting procedures will help each tree, shrub or other plant grow to become healthy and vigorous, able to live to the limits of its natural life.
Where to plant: Consider how big your trees will grow. Avoid planting under or near overhead utility lines, and check for underground utilities.
If you are planting 6 to 12 inch trees, you may want to start them by planting them a foot apart in your garden.
After they have grown for a year or two, you can transplant them to their permanent locations when they are dormant.
Planting bare-root trees: It is best to plant bare-root trees immediately, in order to keep the fragile roots from drying out.
If you can not plant because of weather or soil conditions, store the trees in a cool place and keep the roots moist.
- Unpack tree and soak in water 3 to 6 hours. Do not plant with packing material attached to roots and do not allow roots to dry out.
- Dig a hole wider than seems necessary, so the roots can spread without crowding. Remove any grass within a 3 foot circular area. To aid root growth, turn soil in an area up to 3 feet in diameter.
- Plant the tree at the same depth it stood in the nursery, without crowding the roots. Partially fill the hole, firming the soil around the lower roots. Do not add soil amendments, such as peat or bark.
- Shovel in the remaining soil. It should be firmly but not tightly packed. Construct a water holding basin around the tree. Give the tree plenty of water.
- After the water has soaked in, place a 2 inch deep protective mulch in an area 3 feet in diameter around the base of the tree (but not touching the trunk.)
- During dry weather, generously water the tree every week or 10 days during the first year. Water slowly at the drip line.
Planting evergreens: Evergreens are planted in the same manner as deciduous trees, and do not need pruning at planting.
Partial shade is recommended for the first year except for junipers and cedars.
Give them plenty of water and promote growth by cultivating the soil during the first few years.
A desired shape can be kept by pinching off new growth in the spring, cutting just ahead of a point where there is a dominant bud.
When you plant in the fall: After fall plantings, completely soak the ground around the tree once each week until the ground is frozen solid.
Also, water during winter warm spells if the ground is dry and not frozen.
Before freezing time, cover the soil around the base of the tree with an extra 4-inch layer of insulating mulch.
Remove this extra mulch in the spring after the ground thaws.
Planting a lot of tree seedlings: When planting a large number of small seedlings, the same basic principles apply as in planting bare-root trees.
However, use of a planting bar can help speed up the process.
- Insert a planting bar and work back and forth to create a hole for planting.
- Place the tree in the hole at about the same depth it stood in the nursery.
- Insert the bar about 2 inches from the hole and work the bar back and forth to pack soil around the roots.
- Close the new hole with your heel.
Notes: You can find a good planting bar on the Internet by searching for "planting bar".
Digging the hole by hand or machine is more labor intensive and time consuming, but is always the best option.
Remember to keep roots from drying out before planting, water the trees generously, and use mulch.
The value of mulch: A young tree's best friend, mulch insulates soil, retains moisture, keeps out weeds, prevents soil compaction, reduces lawn mower damage, and adds an aesthetic touch to a yard or street.
Remove any grass within a 3-foot area and pour organic mulch such as wood chips or bark pieces 2 to 4 inches deep within the circle.
Keep the mulch from touching the trunk of the tree.
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