HOW TO PLANT A TREE IN THE RIGHT WAY

The rains are here and the call is plant trees.

But wait.

How many people can plant a tree(s) properly?

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It is noteworthy to point out that not all who would want to plant a tree(s) attended forestry class. Hence the need for the post.

First thing first.

Why plant trees?

Trees clean the air we breathe, decrease air pollution, mitigate climate change, support wildlife, slow storm water runoff, conserve rainwater, buffer noise pollution, and bolster people’s health, provide fuelwood,construction material and money.

Which tree to plant ?

Start by looking around the neighborhood. Make a list of trees that appeal to you through the seasons and which ones appear to flourish. Visit local parks and arboretums to see native trees that have already adapted to your region and tend to succeed. A forester, local arborist, and county extension officer can also identify the best trees for your area. Do your research before selecting a variety. Visualize the tree’s mature size and shape and how it would fit in with your landscape

What size to plant ?

When buying a new tree seedling, go for sturdiness over speed. Sturdy seedlings are healthy, vibrant and disease free. Recommended size for planting is from 30cm or 1ft high seedlings.

How to plant tree correctly.

Digging a wide planting hole is the key to fast growth of your new tree. Recommendations often specify a hole twice as wide as the root ball; three times as wide is even better. The depth should be no more than the height of the root ball.

1. Marking a planting hole:

The distance between one tree to the other depends on its crown at full growth. Tree with wider crown at maturity should be more spaced than those with smaller ones. Common spacing are 1x1, 2x2, 4x4, 4.5x4.5, 5x5, 7x7 etc. All are in metres.

2. Digging the hole(Pitting)

Prepare a hole two to three times as wide as the root ball of your tree seedling. Common dimension is 1ft by 1ft by 1ft hole. This is for rootballs in 4x6 polytubes which is a half foot high.

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Note:Sperate top soil from subsoil by placing a half of the dug soil on either sides of the hole. Top soil is the humus richest, needed for backfilling.

3. Put the seedling in the hole.

Handle the root ball carefully to keep it intact while you place it in middle of the hole. Once  it's in, turn it so the best side of the tree is facing the direction you want.

Note: Ensure the seedling's root collar( where soil reaches when seedling in in the tube) is in level with ground level.

4. Backfill with soil.

Return the dug top soil back to the hole around the root ball as you press back the soil with your palm or heel (lightly) to remove air pockets( trapped air in the soil). Frequently check the trunk to ensure that it's straight. Use leftover soil as a barrier on lower side of the  slope (2inches high and 1ft away from the stem) for flowing water to create a watering well.

Non-stagnant-water tolerant-tree -species' holes ,unlike others, should be backfilled completely without leaving a depresion e.g Melia volkensii( mukau). 

You can mix the top soil with organic manure(FYM) in the ratio or 1:1 for better results.

Note: Plant small trees (that reach 30 feet tall or less) at least 10 feet from your home’s foundation and utility lines. Plant large trees (30 to 70 feet tall) at least 15 feet from foundations and lines; give 70-foot trees 20 feet of distance.

5. Water the planted seedling

Water the tree soon after planting and every day for several weeks afterward until the soil is averagely wet. Avoid over watering or under watering. By that point, the roots will have begun to grow out into the surrounding soil, and you can begin to gradually reduce the frequency of watering.

Fertilizer is of marginal benefit at planting time, and can even be harmful. Wait until the following year, then provide a moderate dose of fertilizer. A 3-inch layer of mulch around the base of the tree will keep weeds out and reduce water loss.

Note:  Newly planted trees should only be pruned to remove broken, dead, or diseased limbs. Otherwise, leave them be until after their first growing season.

PARTING SHOT:

Correct selection of a tree species, Properly planting a tree and Caring for it as it grows are the 3 main determinants of tree growing success.

SHARE AS WIDELY AS YOU CAN, IT WILL SAVE A TREE.