On the Heels of Arbor Day – May is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. Once the site has been analyzed for adequate room and the purpose of the tree has been identified (shade, fruit, screening, color), it’s time to focus on getting the roots in the ground. First Things First First, dig…
Tag: tree planting
Follow-up Care For Newly Planted Trees – Fertilization
Like water, fertilizer or added nutrients are needed in greater supply by turfgrasses than trees in the landscape. If mulched properly and growing on decent soils, the majority of newly planted trees don’t need any supplemental fertilizer. In fact, applying fertilizer soon after planting can be counter-productive, especially if it contains nitrogen as well as…
Caring For Newly Planted Trees – Pruning
Like staking, pruning is an “as needed” procedure, although the need in the first year is not great. In fact, because young trees need every leaf that they can get their chloroplasts and vascular bundles on, pruning should be avoided in most cases. If branches are removed at planting time or shortly after, the tree…
Follow Up Care for Newly Planted Trees – Mulching
Mulching If a little is good, much more is better is not a good mantra for mulching. For the overall sense of proper mulching technique, take a cue from Mother Nature. In a forest or natural setting, you’ll commonly see a 2-4 inch layer of fallen leaves, stems, fruits and bark, often referred to as…