Planting My Tree
Fall is the time to choose planting locations, treat competing vegetation, and contact vendors to schedule tree and supply orders. An old saying in the tree-planting world is “You don’t want a $100 tree in a $5 hole.” Proper site preparation will give your trees the best chance for healthy, long, and productive lives. Planting trees in groups will increase safety and limit care.
The first step in site preparation is matching the location to the tree. Look up, down, and all around. Overhead utility lines, underground obstructions, surrounding buildings and vegetation on site are just a few of the variables that should be considered. The right tree species should fit the space when mature, enhance the surroundings, and provide maximum benefits with minimum liabilities. Plant no closer than one tree length from your house.
Treating competing vegetation will enhance growing conditions for the tree. Grass and other vegetation may be removed by chemical or mechanical means. Often a combination of chemical application with mechanical cultivation is optimal. Do not add fertilizer or soil amendments as this may cause a potting effect and restrict future root growth.
Plant the tree at a depth where the root collar is level with the ground (see illustration above). Be sure to remove burlap, wire baskets, temporary stakes, and wrap or string before planting. The hole should be three to four times as wide as it is deep. After planting the tree, refill with the original soil, lightly pack, and water. When the soil has settled to the original ground level, add mulch in a two-inch to four-inch deep layer to a diameter of four to six feet or more around the tree. Do not pile mulch directly against the trunk, as this may cause rotting. The best time for planting in Dallas is from December through the end of March.
A list of appropriate species can be obtained from the Dallas City Forester in the Parks and Recreation Department or the City Arborists in the Development Services Department.
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