Time to Plant Trees

Depending on your area, it may be approaching the time to plant new trees. Taking care of new trees is important because they are so delicate in the first couple of years. Taking care of your trees from the start and throughout their lives can help you increase the shade, oxygen and property value of your home. With a little pruning and routine maintenance, your trees will be healthy and strong.

Before you plant, make a visit to your local nursery. Ask about what types of trees are native to your area and which ones will be best for your purposes. Are you using them for shade? To block out street noise? For privacy from neighbors? Or do you want them simply for their beauty? Whatever your reason, you are sure to find the right tree for your yard.

You may need to bring in a soil sample to determine what type of tree will grow best in your soil. Make sure that you don’t get one that will be too big for the area you have picked out for it. Trees planted too close to homes and power lines have to be later removed. Remember that a tree can sway up to eight feet in a good storm. You may have to check with authorities if you are in a neighborhood. Trees must be planted at least 20 feet away from intersections in most areas. There are also considerations for underground cables, gas lines, water lines, sewer lines, septic tanks and pipes. Additionally, if you put trees near your driveway, you can expect the roots to crack the driveway. Make sure that the trees will not obstruct your view or your neighbors’ views of the road when they are pulling out.

New trees should be heavily watered weekly, more if it is extremely hot weather. Only skip watering if you received a lot of rain. Water absorbs better and doesn’t evaporate as quickly if you water in the late afternoon or night. Water as deeply as you can imagine the roots are. Be careful not to water too much or the roots could rot and kill the tree. Heavy mulching will help keep moisture in the ground and also protect baby trees from being damaged by lawn mowers or people that don’t notice it. Mulch out about 3 feet from the base of a baby tree, five feet for a larger tree.

Watering on schedule is the most important part of helping your new trees survive. You can use an automatic hose reel with a computerized timer to automatically water your trees on time. Good luck with your baby trees!

About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.

Planting New Trees

Planting trees in your yard can add shade, reduce noise, and add value to your home. Taking care when planting and growing a new tree is essential to its survival. The first few years are crucial. Caring for your trees, pruning when necessary and adequate watering will help them thrive.

Decide what types of trees grow well in your growing zone. Take photos or draw pictures of what you hope the trees will look like in your yard at maturity. Choose the right shape of tree, not only for the aesthetic value, but also to fit a mature tree into your available space. The shapes you will be considering include round, oval, pyramidal, columnar and v-shaped. Select trees according to canopy size, not just height.

No tree should be planted closer than eight feet from your home or other structures. Only small trees should be planted this close. Fifteen feet is recommended for medium sized trees while twenty feet is a good minimum distance for large trees.

Check with authorities about rules concerning tree planting. You do not want to plant a tree near an intersection where it could hinder drivers from seeing on-coming traffic. Sewer lines, underground cable and gas lines should be avoided. Make sure that the roots of your new trees will not interfere with your septic system, driveway or water lines. Keep the eight to twenty foot rule in mind when avoiding structures that could be damaged by an expanding root system. If you plant in an inappropriate area, your tree could be removed by city workers.

Plant your tree just deep enough to cover all of the roots and very little of the trunk. Dig a hole much bigger across than you will need. Turning all of the soil for a few feet away from the tree will help the roots take hold and spread. Using this turning technique can help your tree grow twice as fast and live twice as long. Use a tiller for optimal results.

Once planted, you will need to mulch the area around the bottom of the tree. This is essential because newly planted trees are very delicate and can easily dry out and die. Mulch acts as a good insulator, holds in plenty of moisture and prevents the soil from becoming compacted.

Watering is of great importance for the first few years of a trees life. After planting, saturate the soil with water, letting it soak down past the rootball. Water, to this depth, once a week unless you have been getting heavy rains. If you live in a very dry or hot area, water only in the morning and up to three times per week. Keep a garden hose reel handy so that you will remember to water your new trees.

About the Author: Stacy Pessoney is an award winning author and writer of web content for many different web sites. She is well versed in many different areas, including gardening, hose reel, lawn care and landscaping.