Tree Planting Guide

Dig a hole that is 2-3 times as wide as the root ball and only deep enough so the root flare of the tree is even with the original soil level.
Remove any tags, wires, or ropes attached to the tree limbs and/or trunk.
Remove the tree from its container and massage out the roots. Snip off roots growing in a circle and up around the base of the tree.
If planting near a sidewalk, turn the tree so branches aren’t going into the sidewalk or the street.
Put the tree into the hole, making sure the tree stands up straight, and not too deep or too shallow. You can lay your shovel handle flat across the hole to compare the root flare to the original soil level.
Fill in the space around the tree with the dug-up soil. Tap the loose soil around the root ball to remove air pockets.
Pour an entire bag of mulch around the tree, creating a donut shape (no mulch touching the tree trunk), not a volcano shape. The mulched area might be larger than your hole.
As your tree grows, remove any weeds that grow inside your mulch bed. Take care not to hit the trunk of your tree with lawn mowers/weed trimmers – the resulting damage could kill your tree!
Remember to water your tree after planting! It’s critical to provide enough water around the rootball.