Lesson Three

  • How to plant your trees and shrubs (video 1)
  • When and how to stake a tree (video 2)
  • When and how to water a new tree (video 3)
  • Tree sciences

 

Video

See video

Photos

Photo of tarp on grass
Dig up the sod and place it in one corner of your tarp. You will use it later to create a tree well.
Dig out your hole to the depth of the container of the tree
To test the depth of the hole, place the tree in the hole and make sure your shovel lies flat to the ground.
Remove air pockets in the backfilled soil by gently applying pressure with your foot at 2 intervals. Do NOT compact the soil.
Create a tree well with soil or your sod upside down along the perimeter. This holds moisture in and keeps lawnmowers away.
Place any remaining soil on the tarp around the tree.
Mulch around the tree continuing to build your tree well. Never pile mulch against the stem or trunk of a tree.
Make sure you give your new tree a good water on a slow trickle for 15 minutes right after planting.
Mulch piled too deep will suffocate the tree's roots.
Stakes that are left on too long will girdle the trunk of the tree. A tree that is restricted due to improper staking.
After the stake has been removed, the tree is girdled which decreases the flow of water and nutrients from the roots to the tree

Resources

Worksheets and Factsheets (PDF): 
Lesson 3 Key Points
LEAF: Planting and Care
Top 10 Things You can do for your tree
More from LEAF: 
Tree Tenders Volunteer Training
Related Internet links: 
Mulching
Tree Anatomy
Tree Biology
Improving your Soil