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How to Plant and Stake a Tree
Trees are the largest and longest living plants in your garden. In small gardens, it's a good idea to choose a tree that has more than one season of interest. You'll also need to think about where you want to plant a tree when choosing one. Trees you buy come in three forms: container-grown, bare-rooted, or balled. Container grown trees can be planted all year round; bare-rooted trees are available in late autumn and winter; balled plants are not seen often, but some conifers may be sold in this way. Container-grown and balled trees can be left unplanted for several weeks provided that the soil is kept moist; bare-root trees must be planted as soon as possible. This workshop shows you how to plant a container-grown tree, but the same principles apply to all trees and shrubs.
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Your tree; a fork, spade; organic matter; watering can; stake; tree tie. Optional: secateurs, mulch.
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Place the tree where you want it to grow. Mark out a hole about 3 or 4 times as big as the top of the container, using the blade of your spade to draw a circle on the soil. If planting your tree in grass, lift the top few inches of turf.
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Dig out the hole making it about 1.5 times the height of your tree's container. Pile the soil to one side of your planting hole. If you have poor soil, mix organic material with this pile of topsoil. With your fork, loosen the soil at the sides and bottom of the hole.
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Hammer the tree stake into the hole, just off-centre, and on the windward side. Add some organic matter to the hole and fork lightly into the soil in the base of the pit. (If your garden is very windy, or the tree will be very exposed, you can use a shorter tree stake put in at an angle to the trunk after the tree has been planted).
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Lay the tree on its side and slide it out of the pot. Make sure that the compost around its roots is moist - give it a long soak in a bucket if necessary. Without breaking up the root ball, loosen the small side roots around the edges and remove any weeds from the compost.
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Hold the tree in place next to the stake and spread the roots out around it. Check the planting depth by laying a cane across the planting hole. The tree should be planted at about the same depth as it was in its pot - adjust how it sits in the hole by adding or removing some soil.
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Backfill around the tree with the topsoil you dug out. Do this in stages, firming the soil around the roots of the tree as you go. Use your hands or a foot (gently). Finish off the surface by lightly forking it over. Water well around the tree (preferably with a can with a rose attachment, otherwise with a gentle flow because you want the water to soak in not splash soil away from the roots). Remove any damaged side shoots, attach a rubber tree tie around the plant and the stake. Apply a 5-7cm layer of mulch around the tree. This will help to conserve moisture around its roots and suppress weeds.
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Dig a planting hole of the right size, position stake and tree |
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Use a cane to make sure you plant to the correct level |
Firm the soil around the tree with your feet |
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