A tree is an important investment. We grow 30,0oo trees each year, here are our answers to planting and watering tips for container trees.

How should I plant my container-grown tree with thick roots?

If the roots are thick along the inside of the pot and growing in a circle, it’s important to massage those roots loose so they will grow outward rather than in a circle.  And this goes for any container-grown plant.  Sometimes you can massage them loose, but sometimes you have to use a soil knife or sharp spade and cut them a bit to loosen them up.  Definitely, DO NOT leave roots growing in a circle when you plant.  Those can eventually lead to girdling of the tree’s trunk.  Make sure you massage or cut them open and growing outward.  It may seem cruel to the tree or plant, but it must be done!

What’s the correct way to water my container-grown tree?

If you’re planting container-grown trees this fall, watering these trees is a little different than balled and burlap trees.

1.) Thoroughly soak the root ball and surrounding soil immediately after planting.  Do it again tomorrow, and again in 2 days.

2) Then, water thoroughly every 4-5 days for the next 2-3 weeks.

3) Then you can change to a thorough watering once every 7-10 days, as needed, soil type and weather pending.  Always check the soil moisture before you water – and that means both the root ball soil and the surrounding existing soil.

“We’re planting new trees in our yard, and we do have deer in the area.  Anything we should help protect these trees?”  -YES!  A newly planted tree becomes a scratching post to those bucks rubbing their antlers.  Protect your new investments with tree guards, tree wrap, bark shields, plastic sleeves, as well as the additional use of deer repellents such as Liquid Fence, DeerScram, Repels All, or Milorganite (feeds and repels).  Keep those protectors on the new tree trunks over the entire winter, and remove them late next spring.

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