Instructions for Planting

1. Dig the hole only as deep as the root ball- no deeper

Planting the tree on loosened soil will cause the tree to sink when watered in. It is actually better to be one or two inches too high than too low.

2. Dig the whole twice as wide as the root ball

(At the very least, 1’ wider than the root ball). The loose backfill makes sure the tree has oxygen and drains water. Tip: Spread loose soil evenly around the hole as you dig to make backfilling and cleanup easier.

3. Put the tree in the hole and straighten

using some of the backfill dirt. Make sure you pull back the twine, burlap, and any extra dirt above the root ball. (Dig down until you find the first roots and level off). Remove all tags- they can girdle the stems or trunk.

4. Backfill with the loosened soil and mix in amendments if needed

(compost, mycorrhizae inoculants, etc.). It is important to water as you go and break up any large clumps in the backfill soil. This reduces air pockets in the soil that can dry the roots and harm the tree.

5. Mulch

On irrigated sites, mulch, 1” or less. On dry sites, mulch 2-3”. Make sure to clear the mulch away from the trunk.

6. Stake if needed

Do not cable the tree too rigidly. Loosely cabling the tree encourages it to root out and stabilize itself. Also, make sure you take the stakes out after one year. Note: Multi-stemmed trees typically do not require staking.