● Does not require using fertilizer. ● Has a rich, earthy smell.
To help with a do-it-yourself approach to soil analysis, the Maryland Master Gardeners Program, offered through the University of Maryland Extension Service, has guidance on their website. You can buy a soil test kit at a nursery or retail garden shop. Once you gather soil samples, you will need to send the samples to a lab. If you want a thorough analysis, a reputable arborist or tree care company can also perform a complete soil analysis and interpret the data for you. Once you’ve checked the condition of your soil, selected a tree, and received clearance from Miss Utility, you are ready to plant. How to Plant a Tree
There are several types of young trees available for planting: bare root, a container tree and a young tree with roots encased in a burlap ball. Larger young trees, or trees you may find in a nursery, will most often have a large burlap ball encasing the root system. Be aware that some of these burlap balls can weigh 1,000 pounds or more. Planting a tree with a burlap root ball is best left to professionals who can safely move the tree using a root ball cart. Smaller trees can be purchased in containers and often flourish. Before purchasing a container tree, pull soil away from the tree’s root collar at the base. Remove the tree from the container to check for the presence of circling or girdling roots that are larger than the diameter of a pencil. If root girdling is extensive, the young tree spent too much time in the container. Whatever you purchase, make sure that you do not pick up your tree by the stem or trunk. A young tree can be damaged or destroyed that way. Also make sure you remove the container or burlap cover before planting.
Dig a hole for your tree only as deep as the root ball, but about three times as wide.
Follow these steps carefully when planting your new tree and find the Home Tree Care 101 video here: ● Measure the depth of the root ball or container before digging the hole. Dig a hole for a new tree that is about three times the width of the root ball or container. Don’t plant the young tree too deep in the soil. This can cause roots to girdle, and the new tree may fail. Find the root collar and leave a bit of the collar exposed and slightly above ground. ● Straighten out any circling roots. Leaving them in place will stress the roots and cause the tree to be susceptible to disease and drought. Roots, like trunks and branches, expand over the years. A circling root may eventually kill your tree. ● Make sure the soil is well aerated and that water and air can infiltrate. Backfill the hole with native soil unless it’s clay. Amend the soil with compost, topsoil, or other healthy organic material. ● Once you have backfilled the hole, water the tree thoroughly around the diameter of the roots. The importance of watering in the first few years of the tree’s life cannot be overstated. Keep reading for more on watering a new tree. You may want to think about installing a water gator bag or other slow-release device at the base of the tree, particularly if you won’t be home to
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