How to Plant Tree:

1. For spring plantings, plant early. The longer in the season that the plant has to grow with cool, moist conditions, the more roots will beome established to get it through our hot summer. Avoid summer planting because of the increased moisture stress during the hot, dry months.

2. Mulch, mulch, mulch. Mulching should be considered a requirement of tree and shrub planting. Mulch with 3-5 inches of organic mulch well beyond the root area of the new planting, ensuring that there is no mulch next to the stem of the plant.

3. Water properly. Allow time between watering for the root area to dry, which promotes aditional root development. When you water, water with sufficient water to soak the entire root system and beyond. Remember, you can over-water with respect to frequency, but you cannot use too much water during an application. For first year conifirs, continue watering until the soil is frozen.

4. Minimize pruning. Correct problems such as multiple leaders and rubbing branches, but leave the rest. The leaves are the source of carbohydrates for new root growth and expansion.

“Tree planting is a contribution towards addressing the issue of global warming, but only as a complement to the most important action - reducing the use of fossil fuels, and the emissions of carbon dioxide that entails.’