 |
|
 |
Intro:
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Gently loosen the roots so they'll point outward and downward, and place the tree in the center of the hole. Be sure to orient the tree the way you want it. For instance, you might want to make sure the most picturesque side faces the windows of your house. If it has more foliage on one side, turn that side toward the wind to protect the tree and let its other side fill out. When you turn the tree to adjust its orientation, make sure you lift it from the base of the root ball, not the base of the trunk. This is also the time to make sure the tree is standing upright. If it's at a tilt in the ground, put extra soil under the lower side to lift it up. Before you fill in dirt around the tree, make sure you won't be covering the root crown with soil. The root crown is the place where the roots end and the trunk begins. If you cover the crown with dirt, it will lead to rot at the base of the trunk. The root crown should be 1/2 to 1 inch above ground. When placed properly, there shouldn't be any exposed roots.
With one hand holding the tree, use the other hand to gently add soil around the roots. The tree should be able to stand up on its own now. When the hole is half-filled with dirt, water the area to help pack down the dirt and eliminate air pockets. After adding the rest of the soil, tamp it down with the heel of your foot or the rounded end of the shovel. Once it's been planted, water the tree thoroughly. As you water, the soil may settle, and the planting may require more dirt. Add soil until the ground around the tree is level, and water again. When the soil is fairly settled, make a basin to collect and hold water. To do this, just dig a shallow, narrow moat around the tree. It will fill with water whenever you water the tree, keeping the roots moist and happy, especially in the summer.
|
|
Plant and water the tree
