Trees benefit your home year-round: They cool it in the summer, block harsh winter winds, and add color, dimension, and character to your landscape.

Fall is the perfect time to plant trees. The weather is cooler and consistent, and the rain and the soil haven’t frozen yet.

In this blog post, you’ll learn the following points about fall tree planting:

• Picking the best trees and shrubs for your landscape
• It takes two to plant a tree
• Skip the fertilizer and use mulch instead
• Set up tree bubblers for efficient watering.

Picking the Best Trees and Shrubs for Your Landscape

Gardeners and landscapers know that it’s vital that you plant the right plant in the right place. But what does that mean when you want to plant trees in your landscape?

Before you buy any trees and shrubs, you need a landscape plan to ensure your new woody plants have the right amount of sunlight, soil drainage, and room in the soil to spread their roots.

A factsheet from the University of Massachusetts, “Right Plant, Right Place” – A Plant Selection Guide for Managed Landscapes, states, "Careful planning and site evaluation are the first steps in applying this concept.”

The article lists site conditions that you should remember before picking out trees and shrubs (as well as other landscape plants):

• The sun’s orientation: Availability, intensity, and duration, including full sun areas to deep shade.
• The quantity and quality of water available at the plant site.
• The plants’ exposure to extreme weather conditions
• Soil conditions, such as soil type, compaction, and drainage
• Your region’s hardiness zone
• Existing plant competition
• In urban areas, consider below-ground conditions
• Hardscapes, wires, or other obstacles.

You also need to include your intended trees and shrubs' aesthetic appeal at the tree’s full maturity before you buy them:

• The woody plants’ growth habit
• Seasonal colors, including fall leaf color and spring blooms
• The leaves’ textures, colors, and shapes
• Will the tree or shrub have a year-round interest or three-season interest?
• Will this tree or shrub be native and beneficial to local wildlife?
• How large will this tree or shrub get at full maturity? 
• How long will this tree or shrub live?

It Takes Two to Plant a Tree

As we discussed above, many factors should be considered when adding trees and shrubs to your landscape. You must evaluate your property to find the perfect spot for your new trees.

Additionally, you must realize that all plants go through stress when transplanted, resulting in slower growth.

Ball and burlapped trees lose a considerable amount of their roots when transplanted. Container trees also experience transplant stress adjusting to the planting site.

How can you ensure a healthy outcome for your new trees after you replant them in your landscape?

Preparing the planting site, handling the roots with care, and taking care of your newly planted trees can reduce transplant shock.

Now it’s time to plant your tree. You’ll need another person to help you install a tree, including holding it while you ensure it’s centered correctly in the hole before you backfill it.

Here are your nine steps for planting a tree:

1. Start with locating the trunk flare: The trunk flare is where the trunk expands at the base. Make sure it’s partly visible after planting. If it’s not, remove extra soil from the roots before planting.
2. Dig a Wide, Shallow Hole: Ensure the hole is two to three times wider than the root ball but only as deep as the root ball.
3. Remove the Wrapping Around the Root Ball: Remove coverings around the root ball and trunk to encourage root growth. If there’s a wire basket, remove it or cut off a couple of rings to keep it low enough that it won’t block future root growth. Check for circling roots and straighten or remove them. Expose the trunk flare when backfilling.
4. Set the Tree at the Right Height: When placing the tree, lift it by the root ball, not the trunk. Most roots develop in the top 12” of soil, so planting it too deep will cause problems.
5. Straighten the Tree: Before backfilling the hole, check from a few angles to ensure the tree stands straight. This is where a second person can help you.
6. Fill the Hole Carefully: Pack soil around the base of the root ball to stabilize it. Fill the hole and remove any air pockets, watering as you backfill to help settle the soil. Avoid adding fertilizer when planting.
7. Stake if Necessary: Only stake if needed. Three stakes or underground systems provide good support, but trees develop stronger trunks and roots when they’re left unstaked. Remove stakes after a year.
8. Mulch Around the Base: Spread a 2”-3” layer of mulch, but keep it away from the trunk to prevent decay. Don’t mulch within the first inch or two by the base.
9. Provide Ongoing Plant Care: Water the soil every day for the first week; then cut down watering your new tree to every other day for the second week. You can water once a week after three weeks.

Skip the Fertilizer and Use Mulch Instead

In the fall, all plants start to go through their dormant phase. There’s less energy going to the top of the plant.

Right after planting, all of the tree’s energy is in the root system, and a new tree needs to survive transplant shock. Adding fertilizer will stress the newly planted tree more because it doesn’t need the extra nutrients to encourage above-ground growth.

Instead, mulch your newly planted tree. Use bark mulch, wood chips, or pine bark mulch. When applying mulch, don’t spread it up against the tree because it causes the following problems:

• Fungal diseases due to trapped moisture
• Shallow roots develop
• Rabbits, voles, moles, and other pests will chew on the bark while hidden under the mulch
• Girdling roots that enclose the trunk could lead to tree death
• Trees can suffocate under volcano mulching because the mulch blocks oxygen.

Set Up Tree Bubblers for Efficient Watering

Newly planted trees need plenty of water in the first few weeks after planting. Rather than dragging a garden hose and a 5-gallon bucket with holes drilled on the sides, invest in a tree bubbler system to adequately water your newly planted trees.

Tree bubblers’ small irrigation heads flood the soil surface around your trees, allowing water to percolate deep into the ground. You set your tree bubbler to go on and off, irrigating your new trees so their root systems can get established before next summer’s heat.

Invest in the Best with K-Rain Tree Bubblers

Give your trees the vital water they need after transplanting them with K-Rain's tree bubblers. Our bubblers will help your newly planted trees develop deep root systems that will anchor them in the soil for years.

Whether you're a DIY enthusiast or seek professional expertise, our K-Rain products ensure a seamless journey to healthy trees.

Buy your tree bubblers online or at The Home Depot and Lowe's near you. For hassle-free setup, find a skilled contractor through our website to ensure your tree bubblers are installed perfectly for optimal performance.

Need help with K-Rain irrigation parts? Fill out our contact form or call us at 800-735-7246.

Sources:
Ag.UMASS.edu, “Right Plant, Right Place” – A Plant Selection Guide for Managed Landscapes.
TreesAreGood.org, Planting a Tree.
TreeMover.com, When Should I Fertilize a Tree?