We often hear that spring is the best time to plant trees.  Even Arbor Day, the day dedicated to planting trees, is in the spring.  While there is no “bad” time to plant a tree, fall is a perfect time to put a tree in the ground.  By planting in the fall, the tree will have plenty of time to establish in the ground before our spring drought, and summertime heat.

The Planting Hole:

When planting a tree, the planting hole is very important.  We often hear the saying “don’t plant a $50 tree in a $5 hole”. The most common mistake is to dig the hole too deep. The old rule of thumb was that when planting a tree, place it so that the level of the soil in the pot was level with the natural soil surface.  This method is no longer recommended.  The hole should be dug a little bit shallower than the container, and as wide as you can possibly make it.  A good practice is to make the hole width twice the diameter of the root ball.  An easy way to remember not to dig the hole too deep is to use a saying a wise forester once told me; “Plant it high, and it won’t die”.  When a tree is planted deeper than it should be, the root system is starved for oxygen, and the tree has trouble becoming established in the landscape. Also, with trees planted too deep, the trunks are covered with soil, promoting trunk rot/decay situations.

On a side note, if you have a recently planted tree that does not appear to be thriving, check to see how deep it was planted.  If the root flare is not at the soil surface, it may be planted too deep.

Now back to planting a tree…It is important to remove all grass, weeds and competing vegetation around the planting hole.  Weeds, grass and other plants can compete with the newly planted tree for water and space.  By removing the competition, you can help the tree to establish faster.

The Root ball:

After removing the tree from the container, the rootball should be inspected for circling or girdling roots.  Girdling roots are roots that wrap around the trunk of the tree and should be removed.  Circling roots can be seen on the outside of the root ball and can be corrected by shaving or cutting off the outer edge of the root ball at planting. The tree should be set so the root flare is placed slightly above the natural soil level. The soil can now be replaced into the planting hole.  The soil removed when digging the hole is the best soil to put back in the hole when backfilling.  No amendments like fertilizer or manure should be added to the hole. Additionally, no soil should be placed on top of the root ball when backfilling the hole. You don’t want anything to intercept, or divert the water meant for the root ball.

Watering and Mulch:

The final step is encouraging the tree to become well established.  The best way to ensure this is to provide adequate water for your tree.  The water provided by most sprinkler systems is not enough for establishing trees. While it is true that during the winter trees do not need as much irrigation to establish as in the summer, regular frequent irrigation after planting helps a tree to establish quicker.  During the fall and winter irrigate 2-3 times a week.  Do not water if the root ball is wet/saturated on the irrigation day. When watering, apply 2-3 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter of the tree (measured at one foot above the soil) to the root ball.  For instance, a two-inch diameter tree should receive between 4 and 6 gallons of water at each watering session. Mulching the area around the tree after planting provides a place for the new tree roots to grow without having to compete with turf roots.  Mulch also adds organic material to the soil as it decomposes.  A three-inch-deep layer of mulch placed in a 6-foot diameter circle around the tree, but not on top of the rootball, will help the tree establish quicker. For a fact sheet on the correct way to plant a tree go to: https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/documents/EP314.pdf.

City of Jacksonville Tree Planting Project:

If you are looking to have a tree planted in your yard, the City of Jacksonville’s tree planting program may be for you.  They will plant up to two trees in the public right of way in front of your home. The tree will be planted at no cost to you; all that the City asks is that you agree to water and care for it.  To submit a request for a tree to be planted in your right of way, go to https://www.jacksonville.gov/departments/public-works/urban-forestry/news/request-your-630-city-trees-today!

So, if you are looking for a great fall gardening chore, plant a tree. If appropriate trees are planted at the right depth and they are irrigated properly, the planting has a good chance of success.

If you need more information on selecting trees for your landscape, the University of Florida Environmental Horticulture Department has an online tree database that has hundreds of fact sheets on trees. It can be found at: https://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/database/trees/treescommon.shtml

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