Planting a Tree Isn’t as Hard as You Think—How to Do It in 5 Easy Steps

Trees are important landscape components that grow slowly but often outlast most other plants. They offer visual height, shade, and a habitat for birds, and well-planted trees could very well outlive you.

Adding a tree to your property is a bit more complex than adding a small shrub or garden bed, but that doesn’t mean it’s too difficult for a DIY. You’ll just need to invest time and resources into doing the job right if you want to leave your property more shaded and beautiful than you found it.

Here’s how to plant a tree the easy way and help it flourish for future generations.

How to Plant a Tree

Select Your Tree Type

The best way to set yourself up for success is to choose a tree that will thrive in your local climate. Look up your region’s USDA Plant Hardiness Zone and select a tree that is likely to grow well under local conditions.

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Choose a Location

Aesthetics isn’t the only thing to consider when selecting the best spot for a tree. To figure out where to plant it, start with the process of elimination. You’ll need to consider the following:

• Underground utility lines: Make sure you research your state laws before digging and contact the proper agencies and utility companies to mark underground lines.
• Sunlight: Most trees need six to eight hours of full sunlight to grow well, so avoid any shaded areas in your yard.
• Mature size: You’ll also want to consider the full size of the tree when it matures, so don’t select a location that’s too close to structures like your home or other mature trees.

Prepare Your Starter Tree

If you’re relatively new to gardening, planting a starter tree rather than a seed can help give you better results. You’ll get to bypass the initial growing stages where more things can go wrong.

Before planting a bare-root starter tree, you’ll need to soak its roots in a bucket of water for a couple of hours to help them stay moist during the process.

For potted starter trees, make sure to water the tree as soon as you get it home. Place it outside near its future dwelling place to allow it to acclimate to the conditions for a week. When you’re ready to plant it, gently remove it from its container.

Prepare the Hole

• Adjust the soil: Start by checking your soil’s acidity and assessing its health. Most trees prefer loose, loamy, and well-draining soil with a neutral pH. However, you’ll want to research your specific tree’s needs and adjust the soil accordingly to make it more acidic or to raise the pH. Incorporating organic matter via compost can make the soil looser, more loamy, and better-draining, but it also raises the acidity. It’s all about balance.
• Dig the hole: Dig a hole in your yard that’s at least twice the width and about one inch deeper than the starter tree’s root system.
• Set the excavated soil aside: Don’t discard the extra soil you’ve removed from the tree. You’ll need it in the next step.

Transplant the Starter Tree

To transplant your tree, place it upright in the prepped hole. Shovel the excavated soil back into the hole, tamping it gently as you go. Reposition the tree as needed during the process to ensure it stays upright.

Add extra soil to the base of the tree in a mound shape, and create a moat around the perimeter for extra water to collect and keep the tree moist as it matures. Apply a thin layer of mulch, leaving a three-inch ring around the base of the tree to allow for air flow.

How to Care for a Newly-Planted Tree

While a young tree is establishing its root system, it needs some extra attention. Follow these care tips for the first two to three years after planting your tree.

• Water frequently: Water the tree daily for the first two weeks to prevent root shock, and slowly reduce the frequency after to every other day and then weekly. Once your tree becomes more established, you only need to water it every two to three weeks during dry periods.
• Keep it mulched: Keeping a young tree mulched will help its roots retain moisture better. Reapply the mulch on an annual basis. You can drop the frequency to once every two years when the tree matures.
• Stake it: Sometimes, a young tree’s root system isn’t established enough to support it. If you notice your transplanted tree bending, stake it to prevent it from snapping from the top weight or heavy winds.

The Best Time to Plant a Tree

You’ll want to plant a starter tree into the ground when the weather is mild and when the plant is entering or just starting to end its dormancy period. For most regions, this is during fall or early spring.

Both seasons have their pros and cons for planting a tree.

Planting a Tree in Fall

Planting a tree in the fall gives it ample time to establish its root system before the summer heat kicks in. Since the tree is on its way towards entering dormancy, it can channel its energy into root growth rather than leaf growth.

However, you want to make sure you don’t plant the tree too late in the fall, or you run the risk of below-freezing temps causing damage to the tree’s root system.

Planting a Tree in Spring

Local nurseries often get a fresh supply of trees delivered in spring, so you should have a great selection to choose from.

Just be sure to wait until after the ground has thawed from winter, but don’t put it off too long. The warmer temps of early summer can cause the tree to go into shock.