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Common Questions About Trees

How can I tell if I’ve picked a site with good drainage?

Start by digging a hole as deep as your planting hole. Fill the hole with water and watch to see how water drains from the hole. If it drains at a rate of less than 1 inch per hour, pick a new site. If that’s not possible, consider installing some form of drainage to carry water away from the base of the tree. Also consider using water-tolerant species, such as:
• Red maple
• Sycamore
• willow oak
• river birch
How big should the planting hole be?
While you might be tempted to dig a very deep hole, in fact a tree requires a shallow planting hole that is no deeper than the root ball. However, it is very important to make sure the hole is wide enough. As a general rule, make yours three times as wide as the root ball. Such a wide shallow hole encourages the horizontal root growth that allows your tree to thrive.
Should I add anything to the soil?
You may be accustomed to backfilling planting holes with peat moss or other organic matter when installing perennials. When planting a tree, however, you should fill the planting hole with the unamended soil (that is, soil to which nothing has been added). This ensures that the soil around the root ball has the same density as the soil the roots will encounter later, as they spread beyond the original planting hole. A marked difference in density between the planting hole and the surrounding area can limit growth.
Do I have to do anything to the tree before planting?
All trees sold at Long Meadow Gardens come with roots wrapped in untreated burlap, which will degrade quickly in the soil after planting. To plant a tree wrapped in untreated burlap:
1. Remove any tags from the trunk and branches.
2. Place the entire root ball, including the burlap, into the planting hole.
3. Untie the twine from the base of the tree.
4. Push the burlap down to the bottom of the plan...