Basic Planting Tips

Planting trees to create urban forests is an excellent goal, but if it's not done correctly the effort can be worthless. Planting requires adequate planning, long-term care, and knowledge of trees and their needs.

The American Forestry Association estimates that young trees will grow twice as fast when planted correctly and will live twice as long as trees planted improperly.

Call Before You Dig!

Before digging, contact Gopher One Call at 651-454-0002 to identify any utility lines that might be underground.

How Deep Should You Plant Burlapped or Potted Trees?

Planting too deep is one of the top five causes of urban tree mortality. Under normal conditions, root growth is best encouraged by planting the root ball even with the surrounding terrain. When wet conditions or heavy soil are problems, raising about 1/3 of the root ball above the ground will aid the spread of lateral roots. In arid climates, a basin can be used to collect precious water.

Mulch

Mulching, which involves placing shredded hardwood, bark, wood chips, decorative gravel, or other materials on the soil around the tree, can greatly enhance the tree's health. Mulch is a young tree's best friend because it:

increases growth rate of trees
eliminates competing weeds or grass
retains soil moisture
keeps soil cool in summer
protects the trunk from lawn mower damage and simplifies maintenance
increases the soil's fertility as it decomposes
reduces erosion
improves landscape appearance
prevents soil cracking that can damage new roots
helps prevent soil compaction

Mulching Mistakes

do not allow mulch to touch the tree's trunk
do not pile mulch higher than four or five inches