Planting New Trees in Your Yard

A terrific way to enhance the beauty of your property is as easy as planting a few trees. In the summer they can provide shade and in the winter they can provide protection from the wind. They can be an effective way to reduce the noise if you live near a road or be used to give you more privacy if you are in a neighborhood where the houses are close to each other. And, of course, planting trees will increase the real estate value of your property at the same time. Selecting the right tree is important because it will be such a visible part of your landscape. With some advanced planning the best choice for your landscape can be made and easily maintained so that it has a healthy life span. The decision for what bushes to plant is a little easier and usually involves less money. Keep in mind that replacing a tree is far more difficult than replanting most shrubs.

Trees can be purchased from nurseries and garden centers and are divided into three types. When a tree has its roots contained within a ball of soil surrounded by burlap, the type is simply called balled and burlapped. If it is sold in the container in which it has grown, it is called container-grown. The next form is not very common. It is when the tree is sold with the roots exposed which is called bare rooted. Once you have purchased your trees you need to decide whether you can plant them yourself or if you need to hire a tree service expert to do the job.

All of these types of trees require a hole to be dug. And it can not be just any old hole. A common mistake is to dig the hole too deep and too narrow. If the hold is too deep the roots will not get enough oxygen stunting a healthy growth process. If you don’t dig out a sufficient area wide enough the root structure will have trouble expanding outward into the ground helping to anchor it. As far as the depth of the hole is concerned, trees should be transplanted into the soil the same depth as the form in which they were originally grown. The width of the hole should be at least 3 times the diameter of the root ball or container or the spread of the roots (if the tree comes bare-rooted). This will provide the tree with enough worked earth for its root structure to establish itself. Remember when digging the hold to avoid something called ‘glazing’. This happens when the sides and the bottom of the hole have become too smooth or too tightly packed forming a barrier through which water has trouble passing. All you need to do it rough up the soil. Take a fork and run it along the sides and bottom. This will make it easier for the roots to stretch out and grow. It is a good idea to raise the bottom of the hole at the center a bit to force the water to trickle out to the surrounding area rather than forming a stagnant puddle just at the bottom of the planting zone.

Climate determines the best time to plant. Newly planted trees do best when exposed to moderate temperatures and some rainfall after they have been put in their spot. Needing time to root and acclimatize before the onset of summer’s intense heat and dryness or the freezing temperatures of winter, spring and early fall are the best times to plant. Spring is preferred over fall in the north. And in the south, planting can take place through the winter months.

About the Author: Andrew Johnson is the owner of Central Texas Tree Care, a leading Austin Texas tree service provider in Central Texas (Travis County and surrounding areas). Central Texas Tree Care offers services such as pruning and removals, cabling and bracing as well as arborist reports, diagnostics, pest management and fertilization. For more information please visit http://www.centraltexastreecare.com.