Soak roots for 1-4 hours before
planting. There are six basic steps for planting trees, shrubs and hedges:
Dig a hole large enough to give the
roots plenty of room, with at least
2-3" of space beyond the root tips
and the sides of the hole. Build a
mound of soil in the bottom of the
hole and spread roots in a natural
position atop the mound.
Position the plant so the previous soil
line will be even with ground level.
(The stem/trunk will be darker in
color below the original planting line
and lighter in color above it.)
Once the plant is positioned at the
proper planting depth, begin filling
the hole with soil. Work the soil
around the roots with your hands.
When the hole is half filled, tamp the
soil to remove any air pockets.
Fill the planting hole with water and
let it soak in. Straighten the plant in
the hole and finish filling with soil.
Form a "saucer" of soil around the
edges of the planting hole and fill it
with water. (To promote growth, dig
four small holes, 4-6" deep, around the
perimeter of the planting hole and drop
a fertilizer tablet in each hole.)
The lower trunk of newly planted
trees should be wrapped with heavy
paper or special tree wrap. This will
protect tender bark from sunscald
and rodents. A cylinder of screen wire
is useful to protect the trunk from
destructive animals.
