Module 3: How to Plant a Tree

Tree planting sounds pretty easy.   Just put the tree in the hole green side up, right?   Wrong!   Planting the wrong tree in the wrong place, or planting a tree improperly are both very quick ways to a) waste money, b) have a dead tree, or c) create a future hazard tree that might end up falling on someone or something.   In reality, the “simple act of planting a tree” may not be so simple.   Choosing the right site, the right species, the right tree specimen, and the right planting method will ensure that any tree you plant will become an asset to the landscape, not a liability.  

The prevailing tree planting philosophy of urban foresters, arborists, and many citizen tree planting groups is “Right Tree, Right Place”.   The heart of this idea is that you first look at a potential planting site and then determine what tree would work best in that spot.   It involves carefully examining the characteristics of a potential planting site, including soil quality and quantity, available growing space above ground in relation to other trees or to buildings, the amount of sun the site receives, and other similar considerations.   Based on this detailed knowledge of the site characteristics, you can look at the broad array of tree species available and decide which species are best suited to that spot.