How to Grow Trees

Planting a tree is not as simple as digging a hole and putting the tree in it. You need to pay attention to the soil, climate, varieties suitable for the area you live in and other factors such as zoning laws before planting trees. Take the time to think about these factors, and you’ll be able to successfully plant and enjoy one or more trees for years to come!

Table of Contents

Decide on the type of crop

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Pay attention to your goal. Before starting the tree planting process, consider your end goal. Want to add a few trees to the property list, place trees on a large roadside to increase the value of your home? Or maybe you simply want to enjoy the feeling of watching the tree grow, create a wild environment and attract birds to perch on the branches. If you determine what you want when you plant a tree, you’ll be able to make the most informed decisions from choosing which plant best suits your needs to where to plant it.

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Consider the local climate. You need to think about the weather in your area before planting trees to make sure you choose plants that can live and grow in your garden or yard. Using the Plant Tolerance Zone scale not only helps in determining the local climate but also helps in selecting the most suitable plants.

The Arbor Day Foundation provides a climate identification system for plant species called the Plant Tolerance Zone. This system divides the United States and Canada into 11 different zones based on a 10-degree Farenheit difference in mean annual minimum temperatures. ^{[1] X Research Source}
For example, the United States is located in Regions 2 through 10. ^{[2] X Research Sources}
You can visit Plant Tolerance Zones at http://shop.arborday.org/content.aspx?page=zone-lookup and look up the region you live in.
By knowing your region, you’ll be able to identify plants you can grow and expect them to thrive in the extreme temperatures of your area. ^{[3] X Research Sources}
Know that Plant Tolerance Zones do not account for variations in humidity, soil, wind and other conditions that can affect plant survival. ^{[4] X Research Sources}

Pay attention to the soil. You may also want to consider the topography of your site before planting. Factors such as slope, neighborhoods, drainage, and erosion can affect tree growth.

For example, if you live on a hill or a sloping piece of land, planting trees is not necessarily a good idea because the roots have a hard time sticking to the soil.
If planting trees to prevent erosion, you should choose trees that have large roots so that they are not washed away by the upcoming rainy season or stormy winds.
Check the surrounding trees and plants to make sure the tree you plant not only fits the landscape, but that it has enough space to grow and doesn’t disturb other plants and trees.

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Learn local laws about digging holes and planting trees. Most areas have zoning laws about trees and digging holes in their territory. Learning the law is essential to ensure that you can dig holes and plant trees. Otherwise, the locality will not only prevent you from planting trees, but you may also have to pay a fine.

Horticultural zoning laws also often involve digging holes near telephone booths or electricity poles and cables. You need to be sure about the location of the cables before digging.
You may also want to make it clear to your local utility companies about digging holes around their poles and cables to make sure you don’t disturb or harm anyone when you plant or when these trees are planted. develop.
In the US, you can call 811 before digging a hole. They will provide the location of underground utilities to you for free, which helps prevent damage, injury, and fines.

Talk to an expert. If you have any questions or are unsure about a tree-related matter, talk to your local horticulture expert. Consulting with someone who understands your wishes and local conditions can help you find the most suitable cultivar.

You can go to your local nursery to find a plant expert, or you can use the Arbor Day Foundation’s search engine to find one. The search engine is located at http://www.arborday.org/trees/health/arborist.cfm .

Buy trees. After completing the steps to determine the climate, soil, and zoning laws, you are ready to buy trees to plant. Buy plants that are suitable for your region, climate and garden.

Plants that are native to where you live will probably do well, and you should not choose plants that are potentially invasive. Native plants are easier to care for. ^{[5] X Trusted Source United States Environmental Protection Agency Go to source}
You can find the best tree species for your area. For example, if you live in northern Canada, planting a palm tree may not be feasible. The Arbor Day Foundation can help you choose the most suitable cultivar by simply entering your zip code or Plant Hardiness Zone into the search engine at http://shop.arborday.org/content.aspx? page=tree-nursery .
As a rule, bare-rooted plants – roots not wrapped in burlap or pots – grow better than plants grown in pots.

Preparing to plant trees

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Choose the right time of year to plant trees. You want to give the tree the best chance to grow and survive. Planting at the right time of year is key. The timing will vary depending on the species of tree and the area you live in.

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Usually you should plant the plant when the plant is in dormancy or when the plant does not flower during the cool or cold season of the year. Again, this depends on where you live.

If you are unsure about the best time of year to plant a tree, consult your local University Extension Service or a similar service. The US states and many other countries, including India and Kenya, have this service. ^{[6] X Research Source}
If you live in the US, you can locate the University Extension Service using the National Institutes of Food and Agriculture’s online interactive map at http://nifa.usda.gov/ partners-and-extension-map.

Prepare plants. When you have bought the tree, you need to prepare before planting. This helps to ensure that you have selected the correct viable cultivar. The process will be slightly different depending on the size of the tree.

If it is a young plant, gently tilt it upside down to remove it from the pot. If the plant is tied in a sack, you should plant the plant in the ground before cutting the bag.
If the plant has grown past the seedling stage, you can cut off the wrapper. If the plant is tied in a sack, wait until the plant is planted in the ground before cutting the sack.
If the roots are tied with wire or planted in a wire basket, you need to cut the wire with pliers so that they do not affect the roots, causing death.
Keep as much soil as possible around the roots and don’t move unless necessary to keep the roots from drying out.
Do not leave the roots out of the pot or sack for too long as this can damage or dry the roots.
If you decide to plant a seed instead of growing an existing tree, follow these steps. Growing plants from seed means sowing seeds that germinate, sow at the right time and take good care of them. This method will take more effort than growing plants in pots. ^{[7] X Research Sources}
In order for the seed to germinate, you will likely have to cut the seed coat. That is to break the seed coat so that moisture can seep inside to help the plant embryo germinate.
Once the seeds have germinated, you can plant them in separate pots or seed trays. Place the tray or pot in a light and airy place.
Each plant species has different seeds with different needs, so be sure to follow the instructions that are appropriate for the variety you are growing.

Understand that if you grow fruit trees from seeds, you may not get exactly what you want. For example, if you plant seeds of Gpden Delicious apples, it is unlikely that you will have a Gpden Delicious apple tree. You only know this until the tree bears fruit. ^{[8] X Research Sources}

If you want to grow a large yield, it’s best to buy one from a nursery to make sure it has a good root system and will produce exactly the fruit you want.

Planting a tree

Decide where to plant the tree and mark it back. As you observe the land and think about your goals, you can decide where to plant the tree. Mark this spot with a large, light-colored circle.

Make sure you consider everything like the power lines, the location of the house, the driveway, as well as the location of other trees so that the roots don’t damage your property as they grow. ^{[9] X Research Source}
Use special paint to mark the location. These paint cans have nozzles so you can spray them even with the bottle upside down. ^{[10] X Research Source}

Measure the root ball. Before you start digging a hole to plant a tree, it’s a good idea to measure the plant’s root bulb. This will help you figure out how deep to dig.

At this point you can remove the sack around the roots close to the base of the tree, i.e. the part where the roots connect to the trunk. ^{[11] X Research Source}
Using a tiller or garden shovel, remove the topsoil of the roots.
Remove just enough soil to see the roots close to the base of the plant. ^{[12] X Research Source}
Measure the height and width of the root ball, from the ground to the base of the plant, and from side to side. ^{[13] X Research Source}

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Dig a hole to plant a tree. Use a shovel to dig holes. You need to make sure that the hole is large enough to accommodate the plant and give it enough space to grow and take root.

Dig a hole 2-3 times as wide and as deep as the height of the root pot. It will give the plant enough space to acclimatize and allow new roots to grow without constriction. ^{[14] X Research Source}
Try to dig a small “pedestal” in the middle of the hole where the plant is placed. It is advisable to dig deeper in the corners, but there should still be a base of soil in the center to place the roots. This base is to prevent the root pot from being in constant contact with water. The excess water will drain into the lower soil on its own and the roots can absorb it as needed.
Measure whether the hole is wide and deep enough. If necessary, dig more soil to achieve the desired depth and width. ^{[15] X Research Source}
Sprinkle a thin layer of superphosphate fertilizer into the hole to promote healthy root growth. ^{[16] X Research Source}

Gently place the plant in the hole. It’s finally time to plant a tree. After you’ve dug the hole carefully, you can place the tree gently into its new home. If the hole doesn’t fit, lift the tree out and re-size the hole.

Make sure the hole is not too deep or too shallow. The stump should be level with the soil surface after the hole is filled.
Do not bury beyond the base of the transition from the trunk to the roots, or leave any roots exposed.
You can position the handle of the shovel from side to side of the hole to determine if the stump is level with the crater before filling.

Set tree. When placing the tree in the hole, you should determine the best side of the tree and turn it in the direction you want. This will ensure the viewing of the tree and the tree is also displayed with the best side. ^{[17] X Research Source}

Discard the sack that ties the roots at this step. ^{[18] X Research Sources}
Make sure you place the plant as upright as possible. The way you place the tree will affect the growth of the tree later.
Consider using a tool to check if you’ve placed the tree straight. You can ask a friend or relative to observe so that the plant is placed upright.
Place stakes to support the tree to grow upright if necessary.

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Fill the hole with soil. Use a fertilizer mixture mixed with the soil you dig to fill the hole. Make sure that you provide the roots with the necessary amount of soil while still leaving enough room for the roots to grow. ^{[19] X Research Source}

Fill 3/4 of the hole with existing soil, filling the remaining 1/4 with compost or compost if necessary.
It’s important to make sure there are no air pockets around the roots as you fill the hole. To remove air pockets, partially fill the hole and gently compact the soil with your hand or shovel. Do the same with the next layers of soil until the hole is filled.
When compacting the soil, do it gently and don’t use your feet because you could step on the roots.
Use a little fertilizer or compost if needed. If the soil is not fertile, is clayey, or is mixed with dust and sand, a sprinkling of manure or fertilizer will give the plant a great start.
If fertilizer or manure smells like manure, it hasn’t been composted properly, and you shouldn’t use it as it could “burn” the plant.
Resist the temptation of commercial fertilizers. This type of fertilizer can promote the plant too quickly and “burn” or stop the plant from growing.
Pay more attention to fruit trees and seed trees. Sprinkle with manure or fertilizer is essential if you grow fruit or seed crops.

Support the tree with stakes if necessary. If your tree is a sapling, use stakes to help it grow in its first year. The stake will keep the tree from being blown by the wind and help the roots form.

Make sure you only tie the stake lightly to the trunk. Do not tighten the bark or wrap around the trunk. ^{[20] X Research Sources}
Remove the stake once the roots have formed, about a year later. ^{[21] X Research Source}
Large trees may require up to two or three stakes. ^{[22] X Research Source}

Take care of plant

Water the newly planted plants. Once the tree has been planted, water the plant and do it regularly. This helps the plant take root in the surrounding soil.

Water the plant daily for several weeks to allow it to take root. Then you can minimize the number of waterings. ^{[23] X Research Sources}
Water is also important for the conditions in your area. Consider humidity, rainfall, and sunlight to decide when to water your plants.
If you grow fruit or seed crops in your home garden, continue to water them weekly throughout the plant’s growing life, as plant growth depends on the right amount of water. You should also fertilize fruit or seed crops monthly, or as directed on the package.

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Use overlays. Consider spreading a layer of mulch around the plant to help retain moisture and eliminate weeds.

Cover the planting hole with 2.5 cm – 7.5 cm of shavings or leaf mulch. Spread the mulch at least 30cm away from the trunk, as mulch can cause stem rot. ^{[24] X Research Sources}
Mulch around the tree will protect it from trampling and lawn mowers, the two main killers of young plants.

Prune the tree if necessary. If branches are broken, dead, or diseased, cut them off gently with a knife or garden shears. If the tree has no problems, it is not necessary to prune the tree until the first growing season has passed. ^{[25] X Research Sources}

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Enjoy the greenery as it grows year after year. Appreciate the shade and beauty of the tree and “thank” yourself for adding another tree to the world. You won’t regret it, and as long as you take care of it properly, it will last a long time.

Make sure you remember to water the plants and keep them growing. You need to strike a balance when watering the plant, providing enough water to soak into the roots but not waterlogged the plant.
Watering plants with a steady stream of water from a garden hose for about 30 seconds is enough. The soil should always be moist and the mulch will maintain that moisture. ^{[26] X Research Source}
Test the soil moisture by digging about 5cm below the ground and using your finger to check if the soil is moist enough. If the soil is moist, you don’t need to water it. ^{[27] X Research Source}

Advice

Once you have a potted plant, lift the roots out of the pot and plant in the hole. If the roots are too large, cut them off. The roots will grow back. It is very important that the roots of the plant come into direct contact with the soil.
Consider the height and spread of the plant at maturity. An existing small oak tree, planted not far from your home, can become a hurricane hazard after 30 years. You can either plant the tree further away from home, or plant another smaller tree.
Make sure when growing, the tree will be several meters away from power lines, cables and water pipes.

Warning

Do not step on or step on the finished pit surface. Stepping on the surface of the pit can cause the soil to compact. Mulch will help minimize soil compaction.

Things you need

Shovel
Tree
Location to plant trees
Drag (optional)
Knife (optional)
Watering
A well-known slow release fertilizer (optional)
Measure
Fertilizer or manure (available in 18 kg bags at most nurseries, bonsai centers, or supply stores)

Steps