How to Plant Trees - And How Not to Plant

 

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Early Spring is the second-best time to plant trees (after late fall). The good thing is that you will soon have leaves and/or blooms beautifying your garden. The warming soil temperatures and increased rainfall provide a nurturing environment for young trees to establish roots. Importantly, planting early in spring allows trees to settle in before the heat of summer, which can stress young plants.

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Are you thinking of planting a tree on your property? It will be an excellent way to enhance your outdoor space. Trees also offer wonderful benefits such as shade, privacy, wildlife food and habitat, increased property values, and more. However, in order to maximize these benefits to their fullest, it is important to ensure you are planting your new tree in the right place and to give it enough space to flourish!

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The biggest single reason for poor tree placement is the way we see plants as cute and small, and our wish to surround our homes with green. But the consequences, in removal costs, damage, insurance claims, and in the forced cutting down of heritage trees, are serious. Trees take time to grow, and many can and do grow large, so when planting a tree, it really is worthwhile to take some time and use a measuring tape when choosing that planting spot. Don’t get caught out 20 years from now by a hasty choice of tree species or planting spot.

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*** Almost all tree roots extend 1.5 to 3 times the height of the tree! ***

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How far the roots will spread, and how badly they might affect drains and foundations, depends not just on the ultimate height of the tree, but on what kind of tree it is. The most well-known of these aggressive trees is the Weeping Willows, but all willows that grow large can be a problem. 

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Other trees with similar habits include cottonwood, aspen, and any other poplar trees, silver maple, Norway maple, black locus,t and American elm. These trees should be planted 100 feet from any buildings, drain pipes, sewers or swimming pools. Don’t forget to consider your neighbors home and pipes too.

Trees should be spaced apart according to their mature canopy spread. Tree spacings of 50 to 60 feet are common place. This allows the open grown form of the tree to develop. 

Selecting the appropriate species for your property based on available space, rather than trying to fit in a species that does not suit your property’s conditions, is very important. 

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Panting a medium to large growing tree (a tree that will reach at least 30-50 feet in height at maturity) in a location where there is at least 20 x 20 feet of soft ground space. Soft ground space means an area free of any hard surfaces that also has adequate soil volume to support healthy growth. Hard surfaces and foundations can cause soil compaction (when soil particles are pressed together), which makes it tougher for roots to absorb water and nutrients needed to flourish. Also, planting a tree further away from buildings helps to avoid future canopy conflicts as the tree grows.

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Focus on species that are well-suited to your climate and time your planting to coincide with the most favourable conditions. To survive and thrive, trees require water and nutrients from the ground. The availability of these resources may be limited by other trees growing in the same area. 

It is also important to think about the location of utilities such as gas, hydro, lighting, or irrigation. To ensure you know the location of any buried cables/wires on your property, you should always call your hydro provider to request an underground utility check before planting.

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Trees require well-draining soil to prevent root rot, and the pH level can affect nutrient availability. Amending your soil with lots of compost will be necessary for optimal growth. Before planting, test your soil’s pH and texture to match the tree’s requirements. Non-native species may require consistent watering schedules to ensure their root systems develop correctly and they remain healthy.

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