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HOW TO PLANT YOUR
NEW TREE OR SHRUB

PLANTING YOUR NEW FRIEND

  • Dig Shallow and Wide
    The soil of the new tree or shrub should actually be ABOVE natural soil grade. If you dig the hole deeper the soil and plant will settle creating a well and could eventually kill the plant. Most plant mortality is caused by panting too deep or over watering.
  • Use compost
    Add compost to your native soil at a 50-50 ratio. Do NOT replace all the soil. You are giving the plant a head start but allowing it to adapt to our native soils at the same time.
  • Pack soil in
    While back filling use the handle of the shovel to lightly tamp the soil in. This will prevent any lethal air pockets from forming next to the existing root system.
    Pro tip: water intermittently while you back fill. This also settles the soil as well as hitting the stressed roots directly with water.
  • Water
    Soak it well ONCE. Yes the plant has been stressed. So soak it well the first time, but do not water too often. This kills more plants than everything else combined. Once soaked, pay attention to how long it takes for the soil to really dry out below the surface. To check this use a long screw driver or even a pencil by driving it into the soil and see if any moisture is deep below the surface. If you can find moisture the plant can too.
    Pro tip: the plant roots are ONLY in the spot where they were when you planted. Make sure you are watering them and not just the soil around them. Deep infrequent water is the best. Turn your hose on a trickle and put it right at the base.