Planting Trees and Shrubs for Longevity
I recommend planting trees and shrubs in the fall because you get 6 months of cooler/wet weather to support good rooting. Now that we are making our way into fall with cooler weather and the rainy season ahead, this is an excellent time for these projects. Consistent moisture is a key to establishing good rooting during and after planting/transplanting.
Planting trees and shrubs is especially important to do right the first time because they are not as easily moved, and often don't take as well to transplanting past a certain point.
Here are my best practices you can use to help establish your trees and shrubs right from the get go.
-- Get good stock from your favorite nursery.
-- Prepare the soil with the right soil amendment for that plant's preference, working it in with the native soil so it flows, and creates the right placement you want when you are ready to put it in the ground. Make sure the drainage is good.
-- Open out the roots so any root-boundness is removed, and soak the roots thoroughly before you plant.
-- Put your plant in the hole and make sure the placement is how you want it before you cover.
-- Cover and pat it in really good, and use your fingers to push all the soil and roots in the hole until you can feel it's solidly rooted.
-- Water in thoroughly so the soil and surrounding areas the roots will be growing into are saturated. Keep roots consistently moist until good rooting is clearly established, and make sure you have a system for watering when the dry/hot weather comes.
The pictures above are great examples to look at for the proper mounding up above the surface of the soil for trees and shrubs. It varies based on the type and size you are working with, but in general this gives you a visual to refer to.
I always recommend to invest in planting right the first time. When they aren't done right, you will often find more problems pop up later from being planted too low in the ground, or in the wrong areas for that particular plant's soil/light preferences.
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