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ASK MARTHA: Tree Planting 101

Martha shares the lessons she has learned during decades of selecting and planting beautiful, practical trees.

Question: Hi Martha, we recently bought a house that has some garden beds, but we’d really like to have trees. What do I need to know before I plant trees in my yard?

Martha: My love affair with trees began many years ago when I started gardening in earnest in my yard at Turkey Hill. I realized the importance of trees in a residential landscape and tried hard to learn which ones would grow well, lending beauty and importance to the land. For me, trees are an essential element of any yard, lawn, or landscape.

Trees represent big investments in money, time. and space. That's why you'll want to plant them for the long haul, minding these preliminary steps. 

BEFORE YOU BUY

1. MEASURE YOUR SPACE:

Plan for the largest potential size of the mature tree (height, width or crown spread, and root space, all stated on the tag) when plotting where it will go. You don’t want it growing too close to your house or other structures on your property. You'll want to make sure the trees will not extend into a neighbor's property and there may be ordinances prohibiting trees from extending over public streets. Think safety, too; you wouldn't want a large tree to end up hitting electrical wires when it is at its full height.

2. KEEP VIEWS IN MIND:

Do you long to wake up to the sight of treetops (and the sound of birds) from your second-story bedroom window? Or to gaze upon the distant landscape from the dining room table? Picture how you want the tree to be viewed from inside as well as outside.

These lindens have grown beautifully here at the farm. These handsome trees have a loose canopy that produces dappled shade on the ground below, allowing in just enough sunlight for shade grasses and flowers to develop nicely.

3. CONSIDER ALL SEASONS:

If trees will drop acorns, berries, or other fruits at different times of the year, you may not want to plant them near a driveway or exposed patio. Likewise, you may want to avoid planting a sprawling shade tree that could impact your sun-loving perennials-or darken your sun-filled living room or home office.



4. KNOW YOUR ZONE:

Start by researching trees that grow well in your zone (native species are always recommended), then decide whether you want fruit trees or ornamentals, flowering trees or those with glorious fall foliage.

PLANTING HOW-TO

Read through the following steps carefully before you begin, as you will want to prepare yourself with the right tools and employ the proper techniques.

1. Using a sharp spade, dig a hole roughly three times the diameter of the container and just deep enough to let the tree's buttress (the swelling at the base of the trunk) sit about 1 inch above the surface of the soil. The hole should have sloping sides to allow the roots to grow properly. Mix a few shovels of new nutrient-rich Miracle-Gro® Garden Soil Tree & Shrub into the hole.

2. To remove the tree from the container, grasp the trunk and slide off the plastic pot; firmly tap on the container to release any stubborn areas.

3. Container-grown trees must have their roots scarified (loosened with your hands or a sharp tool) and teased apart to prevent them from continuing to grow in circles. Use a tool or your hands to gently remove the soil and separate the roots.

4. Position the tree in the hole, taking time to place the plant's most attractive side outward. Backfill the hole using the same soil you dug out. For ball-and-burlap specimens, slide the still-wrapped tree into the hole, remove the wire basket, if there is one, and remove as much of the burlap as possible. The remainder will break down over time.

5. Add a starter fertilizer Miracle-Gro® Shake 'N Feed Flowering Trees and Shrubs Plant Food when planting a new tree; sprinkle it around the edge of the root-ball according to the package directions.

6. Water thoroughly right after planting, then apply a 2- to 3-inch layer of organic mulch to slow evaporation and keep roots cool, leaving a 2-inch buffer around the trunk. (I like using Miracle-Gro Organic™ All Natural Mulch). Sculpt a "water well" to help prevent runoff so water drains directly into the plant. Give the new tree 1 inch of water a week through its first season.

Martha plants a flowering dogwood (Cornus florida). A lovely understory tree, with white flowers in early spring, foliage that’s attractive all summer before turning a dramatic purplish red in fall, and bright-red berries in winter.

Martha's Tip

I’ve discovered the vast financial rewards of planting seedling trees. Because they are much more affordable than mature specimens, seedlings allow you to grow many more trees than you ever thought possible.

I feel strongly about reforestation and giving back to the earth, so every year I plant thousands of seedlings. Trees provide habitat and food for birds and other animals, they absorb carbon dioxide and potentially harmful gasses, and they release oxygen.

Article by Martha Stewart, as part of the Growing with Martha Stewart partnership.