How to Plant a Tree
With these simple steps, planting a tree couldn't be made easier! Just follow along with the process below, to give your tree the best starting point to growing...
Step 1
Dig a hole that's about twice the width of the pot, but the same depth. Ensure you loosen the soil in the hole a little by using a fork. You want to provide enough space for the roots to be able to spread out and settle down.
Give the hole a little watering- if the soil is already moist, this shouldn't be necessary as you will need to water the root ball anyway.
Step 2
Now thoroughly soak the root ball- it must be moist before planting. A tip we recommend for doing this is by dunking the root ball into a bucket of water for a couple of hours. This will soften the roots and make it easier for you to loosen the root ball a little.
Step 3
Once the root ball has been soaking for a while, you can loosen the root ball a little by using a cultivator or fork. This will give the roots a boost and encourage them to grow into the soil, providing the best chances at good establishment.
Step 4
It's now time to plant it! Place the root ball into the hole and ensure the base of the trunk is level with the surface of the soil. It must be level- if planted too deep, the tree can end up sinking as it settles, denying the tree of oxygen.
The RHS recommends using a piece of wood to check the level! Place a strip of wood over the centre of the hole and root ball- if it lays perfectly flat, your plant is level.
Step 5
Once you are happy with how your tree is placed, refill the remaining space with soil. You must ensure there are no air pockets left around the roots, as they can end up preventing water from being able to travel throughout the soil, and roots are not able to expand through them. If any air pockets are left, there's always a chance the plant will die.
Fill the hole in nicely and pat it down nicely to secure the tree- ensure the trunk remains upright and straight.
Step 6
Now give the tree a good watering. Water is a key substance plants need to survive- especially in their first year after being planted- so we cannot stress enough how important it is to keep the watering up.
We also highly recommend finishing it off with a 2" layer of mulch, to provide a source of insulation for the soil and give the roots the best chance for development- this is especially important when planting in the Winter/colder seasons, as you don't want to end up with frost or ice getting to the young root system.
Step 7
Aside from watering and mulching, quite often trees will need stakes to support them during their growth. Trees can become rather top-heavy, so it's recommended you firmly put a stake in at a 45 degree angle for any larger trees, and secure using a hammer- according to the RHS.
Step 8
Finally, the last thing we recommend you do is to attach a tie from your stake to the tree, to give the tree further support in windy weather. If you are unsure of how to do so, you may need to do a little research before hand, but often the back of the tie packets will show you how to do so.
That's it! You're done. Just ensure you continually water the tree throughout its first year or so after being planted. You want to give the plant its best chance at settling down and developing a strong, well established root system.
Contact our friendly team for further advice:
Phone- 0330 555 1020
Email- sales@glenmorenuseries.co.uk