C ongratulations on your new trees! Trees and shrubs are great additions to your lawn and gardens.  With proper planting and care they will offer you shade and beauty for many years.

            Your trees and shrubs should be planted as soon as possible once you get them home. If they cannot be planted immediately, be sure the plastic bag around the roots stays tightly wrapped and store trees in a cool and shady place, protected from the elements.

            Consider several factors when determining the location of your tree or shrub: wind and light exposure; soils and slope of the site; and appropriate spacing (20 ft. for trees that will eventually be very large).  If you are planting a hedgerow, consider planting staggered rows of trees with at least 4 ft between the rows and 4 ft. between each tree.

            Do not open the plastic bag wrapping until you are ready to plant, and take out only the tree(s) you need as you are planting.  Do not expose the roots to wind or sunlight for even a short time. Dig a hole 2-3 times wider in all directions than the width of the roots.  The beginning of the root flare (line between the stem and the start of the roots - usually visible as a distinct color change) is at or just above the soil line and determines how deep you should plant the tree. Stand the tree up in the hole, and begin filling in with soil around its roots. Fill only half-way, starting with the soil from closest to the surface - it has the most nutrients and this is your best chance to deliver those nutrients to the deepest, strongest roots. Once the hole is half filled, water the soil in the hole to collapse all air pockets. Finish filling the hole, pack the soil down by foot or by hand, and water again.  Make sure to plant the tree at the correct level (by looking for the root flare line).  You also want the soil around the tree to be lower than the surrounding ground so that water from precipitation will run toward the tree - not away from it.

            Do not place sod or grass seed over the soil, as that will compete with the tree for nutrients and water.  Instead, mulch 2-4” deep using woodchips, shavings, sawdust or compost to smother weeds and provide nutrients. In order to discourage fungal attacks, do not mulch adjacent to the tree trunk and make sure that the mulch layer is not mounded around the tree (water still needs to run toward the tree). Staking young trees is not necessary and can actually be detrimental to proper growth. Exceptions may be on a windy site or if a plant has a very small root system.

            Watering is the most important aspect to establishing your new tree or shrub.  You should water your trees on a daily basis. For the first growing season 5-10 gallons per day is needed (especially from July –September) if you want your tree to thrive. Fertilizing is generally not necessary. Newly planted trees require little to no pruning the first year.  After that, the amount of pruning depends on the tree and your personal preferences.  Most pruning should be done at the end of the winter (March-early May) while the tree is still dormant.

Information adapted from: “Creating the Urban Forest: the Bare Root Method” by Cornell University’s Urban Horticultural Institute (Ithaca, NY), “St. Lawrence Nurseries-Planting Guide” by St. Lawrence Nurseries (Potsdam, NY) and “A Planting Guide for Bareroot Stock” by VT Dept. of Forest, Parks & Recreation (Essex Jct., VT).

What is a bare root tree?

A bare root tree will come to you in a dormant state with no soil around its roots.  This is the lowest-cost way to purchase multiple plants at once.  The  plants from our conservation plant sale will come to you bundled in a plastic bag and ready to go in the ground.

Forestry Resources

For more information on planting or maintenance of trees, explore the following resources:

* VT Urban & Community Forestry Program
       www.vtcommunityforestry.org
       Kate Forrer - 802-223-2389 x 25
* VT FPR Chittenden Cty. District Forester
        Bill Baron - 802-879-5681
* VT FPR Washington Cty. District Forester
        Dave Wilcox - 802-476-0179
* Chittenden Cty. Forester  
        Michael Snyder - 802-879-5694
* Washington Cty. Forester  
        Russ Barrett - 802-476-0172