Tree Planting: A Step by Step Guide - Ritchie Feed & Seed Inc.

Tree Planting: A Step by Step Guide

Nature lover or not, everyone should contemplate adding a tree to their home’s outdoor space. We could go on and on about the environmental benefits of trees, but beyond their natural effect, trees can be a central part of your landscape design. Over the years, any tree – pine, oak, apple, maple, cherry – will grow along with your family. When you do decide to plant a tree on your property, it’s important that you choose the right location for your tree.

Why Tree Location Matters

When you’re planting a little seedling, location might not seem to matter much. Whether it’s in a corner near a fence or in the centre of your yard, does it matter? You need to think about the future size of the tree, sunlight requirements, soil requirements, and proximity to impediments like the driveway or fence. There are also safety considerations if tree roots will affect water lines or branches will grow to obstruct power lines. Location absolutely matters. In terms of sunlight and soil conditions, this will vary based on the tree species. Talk to an expert at Ritchie Feed & Seed to discuss the right location on your property.

Step 1: Dig Your Planting Hole

When should you dig that hole for planting? Deciduous trees can be planted in the spring, as soon as the frost is out of the ground, or in the fall, from leaf-fall until freeze-up. Conifers can be planted early in the spring until four weeks after deciduous trees have opened their leaves, or in the fall, from about the first week of August to the end of October. It is important that the hole is the right size for the root ball – it shouldn’t be too big or too small. How do you know the right size? As a general rule, dig deeper than the depth of the container you buy the tree in. The hole should also be 3” wider than the width of the container (which you’ll remove later). Keep the soil that you dig, because you’ll reincorporate this with fresh soil later.

Step 2: Preparing the Root Ball

Remove excess packing materials around the base of the tree. Remove the pot. If necessary, gently loosen the tree roots if they’re tightly bunched together to keep your tree grow in solidly.

Step 3: Time to Fertilize

Add transplant fertilizer or bone meal fertilizer to the planting hole. MYKE for shrubs and trees is added now. To help promote better root growth, ask us at Ritchie for more ifnromation about MYKE. Set your tree in the centre of the hole. Orient the tree so that the most “attractive” side of the tree faces where it will be seen most as it grows over the years.

Step 4: Fill the Hole

Back-fill the hole with high-quality fresh planting soil from your local Ritchie Feed & Seed garden centre, mixed with soil from the planting hole. Tamp the soil and water well.

Step 5: Continual Care

Water the tree deeply on a weekly basis until the fall. Consider installing a stake to keep the tree stable in rough weather. You won’t need to fertilize again during the first 12 months, but regular watering is very important. If you have any further questions about planting a tree in your outdoor space or would like to visit our garden centre to pick out a tree for purchase, Ritchie Feed & Seed is here to help. We offer more than 100 varieties of trees for planting, including ornamental trees and fruit trees.