How to Plant Trees and Shrubs

Properly planting trees and shrubs will greatly increase their chances of survival. They will be more tolerant of adverse conditions and will require far less maintanence. Here are our recommended planting instructions to ensure that you give your trees and shrubs the best possible start.

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Dig a Hole

Dig a hole twice as wide and about the same depth as your plant’s rootball. Be careful not to dig too deep. For balled and burlapped plants, you want the rootball to be slightly above ground level. For container plants, the soil inside the container should be even with the ground level.

Remove the Container

Planting Instructions - Step 2 - Remove Container - Mahoney’s Garden Centers, MA

Remove your plant from the container by either cutting or sliding it off. Loosen roots by making four or five slashes about one inch deep vertically down the rootball.

Place the Plant in the Hole

Planting Instructions - Step 3 - Place Plant in HoleMahoney’s Garden Centers, MA

Container Plants

Place your plant in the hole. Tease the roots out so they will grow out into the surrounding soil. Be careful not to knock too much soil from the rootball.

Balled and Burlapped Plants

Position your plant so it is straight and facing the right way. Push a small amount of soil around the bottom of the rootball to hold it in place while you remove rope and burlap from the top of the rootball. If the rootball has a wire basket, cut off the top third. It is not necessary to remove the entire basket.

Amend the Soil

Create a planting mix by thoroughly combining soil amendments with the soil removed from the hole. In most cases your mixture should consist of approximately 1⁄2 existing soil and 1⁄2 soil amendments. Apply root stimulants like mychrizae and water-saving products like SoilMoist prior to backfill.

Form a Basin

Backfill the rest of the hole with the planting mix and use any extra soil to form a basin around the plant that is as wide as the rootball. This basin is important because it will collect water and allow it to seep into the soil surrounding the plant’s roots.

Top-dress with Mulch

Add a layer of mulch 2 - 3 inches deep that covers the planting area. However, be sure there is no mulch touching the trunk of plant.

Water

Place the end of a slowly trickling hose at the base of the plant for 30-60 minutes (depending on the size of its rootball)

Container Plants

Balled and Burlapped Plants

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