Tree & Shrub Planting Guide
Before you plant your new tree or shrub, please remember to call 811 to have utilities marked.
811 is the national call-before-you-dig phone number. Anyone who plans to dig should call 811 or go to their state 811 center’s website before digging to request that the approximate location of buried utilities be marked with paint or flags so that you don’t unintentionally dig into an underground utility line. We can provide you with a flag to mark the space you plan to dig.
- Dig your hole 1X as deep and 2X as wide as the root ball (pot diameter).
- MIX black soil or compost into the soil pile if you have clay or rocky soil as your native soil.
- Gently PULL (or push) the root ball out of pot.
- LOOSEN or cut outer roots from the root ball if tightly packed or wound around. Try not to break apart the ball.
- SET PLANT in the hole so top of root ball is slightly above ground surface. The plant will settle once established.
- Gently REFILL around roots with native soil you removed at the beginning.
- MULCH planted zone. Be careful not to create a “mulch volcano” around the plant or tree trunk.
- WATER the root ball and planted zone to ensure they are well saturated. Let soil surface dry between future waterings. A good rule of thumb is to water every 2-3 days for perennials and shrubs, and water 10 gallons per week for trees (more for drought conditions). For best establishment, keep up watering for 2 years (March - October) and fertilize every spring.