What to Expect When You're Expecting (a New Tree)

“Plant a tree, not for your own gratification, plant a tree for posterity, and for those who will one day sit in its shade.” - Amalgamated quote of Scottish Poet Alexander Smith, and an ancient Greek proverb.

 It’s warming up! Are you envisioning green leaves and full blooms? Are you already planning for some new additions to your landscape? If so, let us help! Installing a tree may seem as simple as digging a hole anywhere in your yard and dumping a tree in it, but there’s a bit more to it than that. A lot more, actually. In this article are some of the factors we take into consideration throughout our planting process.

First, we want to select the right plant for the right place. We start with tree species that are acclimated to our hardiness zone, but this can be tricky because the hardiness zones are based on temperature averages, so extreme temperatures can have a devastating impact on certain species.  Southeast Michigan is currently designated as Zone 6 hardiness, however, we still see Zone 5 extremes, so choosing the wrong type of tree could leave you disappointed. As well, we try to select species that are naturally resistant to pest and disease pressures that are common to the region. This will help minimize the annual maintenance costs of the specimens in your landscape by saving you from the expense of pest management treatments. You’ll also want to weigh whether you want a particular species of tree, or if you want a tree for a specific location in your landscape. Some trees aren’t well-suited to certain locations. Sun exposure, proximity to a structure or roads, soil types, and slopes are all site-specific conditions that can affect a plant’s suitability to a certain location.

Once we’ve selected the appropriate tree for the desired location, we can begin the installation process. Wide, shallow holes are ideal because most trees’ roots are in the first 12-18” of soil (you will see deeper holes dug in order to accommodate the root ball they come in from the nursery). Settling will occur with any installation, so a hole dug too deep could cause the tree’s flare to sink below grade. Next, we prep the root ball for the hole. For both ball & burlap (B&B) trees and container trees, we want to expose the tree’s root flare. This is essential in establishing good growth habits for the tree’s root system. For B&B trees, exposing the flare requires us to remove as much of the burlap wrap as we can, especially the portion covering the top of the root ball. Leaving the burlap results in the ‘wick effect’, drawing moisture away from the root ball and onto the trunk, which can lead to a number of problems. Then we can remove the upper portion of the cage containing the root ball to prevent restricting root growth, but allow the bottom portion to remain in order to maintain the root ball’s stability. For container trees, after exposing the flare, the biggest issue is the root system becoming root bound within the pot, exhibited by a mass of circling roots. To resolve this, we’ll agitate the roots and pull them outward, or we shave off material from the sides and the bottom to encourage branching and outward growth. With the trees ready, we backfill the holes, lightly packing the dirt without compacting it, and depend on watering to force out any air pockets. 

Initial watering should focus on the root ball and the area where the root mass and backfill interface because plants rely on internal soil ball or container media moisture to sustain growth until they have regenerated roots and begin to draw upon moisture in the backfill. To help retain this moisture, our next step is to install a mulch ring around the tree, utilizing woodchips we generate from our tree care operations. We install enough material to cover the planting area at a 3-4” depth, and we pull it approximately 6” away from the trunk to ensure there is no debris built up, nor moisture held against it. Finally, we stake the tree to prevent it being displaced from the planting hole, however, we leave slack in the ties to allow the tree to move with the wind so that it can develop reaction wood and grow into a strong tree.

So, we’ve covered a lot of the process of tree installation, but not everything. Whenever you’re ready to schedule a consultation with one of our Arborist Representatives, there’s more details they can cover with you regarding nutrient inputs, watering schedules, and pruning practices. We’ve got great ideas for landscape enhancements, and our experts have the perfect combination of education, training, and experience to ensure a successful project.

- Isaac Hurley, Plant Health Care Technician