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Planting a Tree
Here are 5 steps to the successful planting of a
tree. Using these steps as your guide, you will
have a healthy tree for your yard.
1- Put the tree in place and look at it.
Walk around the tree. Turn it so it's best side
is facing towards your view. Make sure the trunk
is straight.
2- Check the root level. Lay a long piece
of board or hoe handle across the hole. The top
of the root ball, or the spot where there is a colour
change on the trunk of a bare root tree, is where
the soil should reach. It must be at least at this
level, or 1-2 inches higher. This is very important.
Planting too deep can kill a tree.
3- Add your soil and water. fill the hole
with soil halfway. Gently step on it. Step back
and make sure the tree hasn't tipped. Gently fill
the hole with water, and let it soak in. Check the
tree again and add soil up to the proper level.
4- Make a berm. Create a shallow berm around
the tree. For the next year or so, whenever the
weather is dry, fill the berm repeatedly, until
no more water soaks in.
5- Apply mulch. Spread 1-3 inches of mulch
over the planting hole. This is enough to keep weeds
down and conserve moisture. don't mulch any deeper
than this. Mulch, applied too thickly, invites rodents
and other pests.
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Tree Pruning
Trees don't need pruning very often. There are 5
reasons to prune your trees:
1- The lower limbs get in the way. These
are branches that droop or hit you in the face.
2- Dead twigs or limbs. Dieback is normal,
particularly in the lower limbs or branches that
don't get enough light.
3- The crown is too dense. when the canopy
is so heavy that nothing can grow beneath the tree,
some thinning is recommended. Get a certified/experienced
arborist, as this type of pruning takes considerable
skill.
4- Storm damage. Limbs that have been broken
and severely storm damaged, should be removed, as
soon as it is safe to do so.
5- The tree is too tall or top-heavy. In
this case, pruning will solve the problem temporarily.
But, sooner or later, you'll have to remove the
tree.
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