Planting a tree is a gift to the future—shade, beauty, and cleaner air for years to come. Whether you’re greening up your yard or adding a fruit tree to the garden, getting the planting process right will set your tree up for long-term success. Here are ten simple but important steps to help your tree thrive:
At Seeds of Faith Community Garden, we recently purchased some beautiful fruit trees from Raleigh at Third Insight Design and Nursery. We’re excited to give them a healthy start so they can bless our community for years to come!
1. Pick the Right Tree—and the Right Spot
Before you dig, do a little research. What kind of sunlight does your tree need? How tall and wide will it grow? Look up—are there power lines or roof overhangs in the way? And look down—always call 811 first to mark underground utilities before you start digging.
2. Dig a Smart Hole
Your hole should be shallow and wide. Measure from the top root to the bottom of the root ball, and dig a hole just a bit shallower than that. Make it 1.5 times as wide as the root ball. Clear away grass or weeds around the area.
3. Unwrap the Roots
If your tree comes wrapped in burlap (common with field-grown trees), remove it completely. If it’s in a plastic pot, gently remove it without pulling on the trunk—you can cut the container if needed.
4. Free Up the Roots
Inspect the root ball, especially the top and bottom. If you see circling roots, gently tease them apart or slice through them. Removing about an inch from the sides and bottom of the root ball can help encourage outward growth.
5. Position Your Tree
Place the tree in the hole by holding the root ball or the base—never the trunk. The top roots should sit 1–3 inches above the ground level. When it comes to planting depth, higher is better than lower.
6. Get It Straight
Before backfilling, make sure the tree is straight from all sides. It’s helpful to have someone eyeball it from different angles while you steady it in place.
7. Backfill with Care
Use the soil you dug out to fill the hole back in—no need for extra amendments unless your soil is very poor. Break up clumps and avoid packing the soil tightly. Use your shovel to gently stab around the root ball 20–30 times as you fill to remove air pockets. Water deeply—10 to 20 gallons—once the hole is about halfway filled, then top off with more soil as needed.
8. Mulch Wisely
Spread 3 inches of organic mulch—like leaves, compost, bark, or pine needles—around the base of the tree. Extend the mulch in a wide circle, ideally 2–3 feet per inch of trunk diameter. Keep mulch away from the trunk and don’t pile it on top of the root ball—just a light 1-inch layer is okay if you want a cleaner look.
9. Stake and Prune (If Needed)
Most young trees don’t need staking unless they’re in a very windy spot or have trouble standing up. If you do stake, use soft materials and follow safe staking techniques. Hold off on pruning anything other than dead or broken branches.
10. Give It a Good Start
A little attention early on goes a long way. With the right start, your tree will establish strong roots and become a beautiful part of your landscape for decades to come.
Happy planting! 🌳
