Content

• To step
• Part 1 of 2: Getting started
• Tips
• Warnings
• Necessities

If you are going to plant a tree, you cannot just dig a hole and throw the tree in. You can plant a pre-grown tree or grow a tree from seed, but both require special care. If you want your tree to stay alive and grow well, read on at Step 1.

To step

Part 1 of 2: Getting started

1. Enjoy watching your tree grow and appreciate the shade and beauty of your tree. Thank yourself for giving the world a new tree. You certainly will not regret it and as long as you take good care of it your tree can live for a very long time!

Tips

• This article is mainly about planting a tree that was first grown in a pot. Most trees can also be grown from seed.The tree can then first be sown in a pot, or directly in the ground.
• Fruit and nut trees will have to be watered and fertilized more often than other trees for a good yield.
• Compost is available in 40 liter bags at most nurseries, garden centers and DIY stores.
• When planting a tree from a pot, you have to pull the roots apart in the planting hole. If they grow around too much to do that, cut them vertically. They will recover quickly. It is important that the roots make direct contact with the soil you are filling the hole with.
• Consider the mature height and width of the tree. That little oak tree that you plant right next to your house could be a great danger in a storm in thirty years. You will have to plant it further away, or choose a variety that stays smaller.
• When buying a tree, make sure that the leaves are green and do not look faded.
• One more time: mulch, mulch, mulch! About 5 to 10 cm of organic matter improves the soil, keeps the temperature constant and retains the moisture in the soil. Change the mulch annually.

Warnings

• Do not plant the tree too deep! The base of the tree can then rot. After planting, the base of the tree should be at the same level as in the pot.
• Before planting, make sure there are no cables or pipes under the ground.
• Do not walk on the planting hole. This can cause the ground to become too dense. Mulching can help with compacted soil.
• Do not improve the soil in the planting hole too much. If the soil in the planting hole is much better than the surrounding soil, the roots will not grow beyond the planting hole and the tree will not take root properly.

Necessities

• Scoop
• Tree
• A place to plant your tree
• Scissors (optional)
• Knife (optional)
• Watering can
• A good brand of slow-acting fertilizer (optional)
• Measuring stick
• Compost or composted manure (available in 40 liter bags at most growers, garden centers and DIY stores).