Module 3: How to Plant a Tree

Selecting a High Quality Tree
After evaluating your planting site and deciding what types of trees you want to look for, visit a nursery or garden center.   Avoid buying the cheapest tree you can find, because you may pay for it later. The cheapest tree available may be an undesirable species, have poor form, have some other problems, or may simply be an overstock item for the retailer.

At the nursery or garden center, you will find trees in containers, bare-root trees, and balled & burlapped (known as B&B).   Each method of moving trees from the nursery field to your yard has its advantages and disadvantages.   Bare-root trees, for example, tend to be less expensive and are easier to handle (they're lighter without the soil), but you have to use extra care to keep the roots moist during transport.   Not every tree you come across will be a “High-Quality” tree.   Here are some tips for comparing High-Quality and Poor-Quality when it comes to trees:

A High-Quality Tree Has:

•  An adequate-sized root ball. If possible, check to ensure there are enough sound roots to support healthy growth.

•  A trunk free of mechanical wounds and wounds from incorrect pruning.

•  A strong form with well-spaced, firmly-attached branches.

A Poor-Quality Tree Has:

•  Broken or circling roots in a small root ball or small container.

•  Trunk wounds from mechanical damage or incorrect pruning.

•  Weak form with multiple stems or branches that aren't adequately spaced along the trunk.

If you buy a poor-quality tree, you are buying problems that could contribute to that tree being hazardous in the future. Any of these problems will greatly reduce the tree's chances for a long, attractive, healthy, and productive life in your home landscape.

When you buy a high-quality tree, plant it correctly, and treat it properly, you and your tree will benefit greatly in many ways for many years to come.