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GLT's Grow: The Dirt On Tree Planting

Chris_Parfitt
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Flickr via Creative Commons

Autumn is the perfect time of year to put a new tree in the ground.  With milder weather, your new addition has a fighting chance to put down roots and firmly establish itself as a star in your yard.  Patrick Murphy, host of GLT's Grow, has some advice on tree planting.

  • First things first:  make sure whatever tree you select to plant, there's actually enough room for it to grow to its full potential.  Don't crowd too many trees together or plant there too close to structures.
  • Some nursery tree tags will give you plenty of information about where to plant.  If the information is scant, do your research.  Check with your local extension or local nurseries.  Or our good friend, the internet.
  • A trapezoidal shaped hole -- wider at the top and narrower at the bottom is best for your new tree.  Cylindrical holes are not the way to go.
  • Protect your tree by staking it.  Make sure there's some give in the guy-wires.
  • And water.  Water, water, water your new tree to help it get established.  Don't forget the mulch, too.  Just don't mound it up around the tree trunk. 
Reporter, content producer and former All Things Considered host, Laura Kennedy is a native of the Midwest who occasionally affects an English accent just for the heck of it. Related to two U.S. presidents, Kennedy appalled her family by going into show business.