*The planting hold should be at least three times the width of the trees root system.
*Trees grow best when they are planted using only the native soil around them. Do not leave the burlap or basket around the root ball.
*Don’t plant too deep – The right depth for planting a tree leaves its root collar exposed just above the soil. The root collar is a slight bulge just above the roots where the trunk flares down and out before merging into the roots. Planting too deeply can cause girdling roots. The results of girdling roots can show up one, two, five, ten, even twenty years after the tree is planted. The girdling roots will choke the tree from its food and nutrients and cause a tree that is meant to last 100+ years die well before its time.
*Lightly watering the soil as you put it back into the hole provides a moist growing environment and helps to settle the soil. A good rule of thumb is to add 1 inch of water every week over the planting area for the first three years. Watering rings can also be purchased to help with this task.
*A layer of 3-4 inches of mulch will help retain moisture and reduce competition from grass. Just don’t pack the mulch right up against the trunk.