Planting Trees-How To

Hello,

Well a lot of people are planting trees here in the dormant season so I thought I would give you what the experts are instructing is the best method.

If you buy trees from my store you will see a tag on them telling your to add MiracleGro potting soil in the hole around the tree ball. WRONG!!!!

The correct method, from the experts, is to dig the hole just as deep as the depth the tree is in the pot that contains it and three times as wide as the diameter of the pot . Ie, root ball is 10" deep and 8" across, you dig hole 10" deep and 24" wide. Set the tree in the hole by handling the tree ball not the trunk. Then fill the hole with the original dirt that you dug out of the hole and firm the soil around the roots so that there are no air pockets. If you want then you can create a burm( like a dam) around the tree about 3' in diameter to hold water when you water. Then water the tree deeply and you are DONE. No fertilizer should be applied until just after bud break in the spring. NO ROOT STIMULATOR or ANY OTHER FERTILIZER when you plant your tree. MiracleGro products all contain fertilizer!

Newly planted trees need to be watered more often than older established trees. I would recommend slow deep watering twice a week unless we have a good rain. Soaker hose on for about 3 or 4 hours would be the type of watering I would suggest. Water needs to penetrate to a depth of 6-8" no matter which method you use.

The tags on HD trees should not be followed.....that represents a method that is now NOT considered to be the best for your trees! OK?

walter