June 12, 2014 Newsletter

A shade tree adds value to your home, reduces cooling costs and creates a wonderful area for backyard barbeques and summertime playing. So what are you waiting for? Below are the steps that Kerby's always uses for planting shade, flowering and fruit trees. Follow these steps and you'll have a tree that will give you a lifetime of shade and who knows, maybe some great garden memories.

Step 1: The hard part (well the part that makes you sweat!) Dig the hole twice as wide as the root ball of the tree that you are planting, but only make it the same depth. One of the biggest mistakes made planting trees or shrubs is digging a really deep hole and burying the tree under a few inches of dirt. It seems like it shouldn't matter, but that is very, very bad for plants. The root ball should be level with the ground around it when it is placed in the hole.

Step 2: Remove the tree from the pot and loosen the roots. Large circling roots should be cut, and all around the root ball, the roots should be teased out. The goal here is to get as many roots as possible pointing outwards, so that they will grow outwards quickly and anchor the tree into the ground.

Step 3: Set the tree in the hole and check the level. This is the time to adjust the height of the root ball. Remember it should be level. At this time (before you put dirt into the hole), rotate the tree so that it is facing the direction you want.

Step 4: Make sure the tree stays nice and straight and begin filling the hole with 50% Kerby's Planting Soil and 50% native soil. You want to use a mix so that the new tree will acclimate to the existing soil. Using a shovel or your hand, work the soil into all of the pockets around the root ball, filling as you go. Once the entire area around the root ball is filled with soil, get the hose out and use the water to help wash the dirt into any remaining air pockets (This is also how you really soak the new root ball). Continue adding more soil until you have filled the hole up to the level of the root ball and the soil is nice and firm. Use any remaining soil to form a dirt berm around the outside of the root ball. This helps you water the new tree by holding water over the root ball and allowing the water to really penetrate the soil.

Step 5: Stake the tree. Most small to medium trees just need one strong stake tied to the trunk. Remember you aren't trying to keep the tree from bending and swaying with the wind, you are trying to keep the newly planted rootball secure in the ground, so that the new roots that are growing aren't being constantly disturbed. Make sure that you tie the tree to the stake with grow-tape or Soft-Tie. You want to use something that can grow and stretch with the tree and not cut into the trunk.

Step 6: Apply root stimulator. The acid in root stimulator encourages new roots to grow and really gets trees off to a good start. It also provides some good starting fertilizer. The most important thing for a new tree is to grow a strong root system to anchor it in the ground.

Step 7: Water. Daily for the first month, always in the morning. Fill the berm up 3 or 4 times and let it soak into the ground. You want to soak the entire root ball and then soak a good area around and below the root ball to encourage the roots to grow. Water every other day for the second month and twice a week for the thrid month. After the thrid month, you can usually reduce the watering to one good soaking each week.

So there you have it. The steps that Kerby's follows each time we plant a tree. So pick a tree and get planting. Backyard barbeques and summertime picnics await.