Planting a tree can be timed with an important event, such as a child's birthday, the first day of school, or any other joyful occasion in your family.
To plant a seedling and maximize its chances of survival, you will need:
The First Important Step – Purchasing a Seedling
Choose a seedling in a container for the best results.
An excellent young seedling should have healthy, undamaged bark, a small number of side branches, clean green leaves, or slightly swollen buds.
The Second Important Step – Choosing a Planting Site
It's important to remember that trees occupy quite a bit of space. The distance from the neighbor's fence should be at least 3 meters, from a residential house at least 5 meters, and other trees 4-5 meters. The site should be sunny most of the day, protected from strong winds, and not waterlogged in spring.
The Third Important Step – Planting
If grass previously grew at the planting site, carefully remove a small layer of sod and set it aside, as it will be helpful later. The hole should be dish-shaped, about one meter in diameter, and as deep as a shovel blade at its center, tapering off to ground level at the edges. Make incisions along the hole's walls with a shovel, slightly chopping the soil. Crush the resulting soil, forming a mound in the center of the hole. The rest will be used for backfilling.
Next, remove the seedling from the pot. Untangle and spread the roots, placing the seedlings on the mound in the center of the hole. Gradually backfill layer by layer, gently compacting the soil. The result should be a small mound.
Now it's time for the sod, which will form a border. If there is no sod, any soil from the site will do. The border helps water seep in and not run off too quickly. Grass clippings, sawdust, wood chips, or bark can be used. Leave 15-20 cm from the trunk.
Support Ties. Secure three sturdy stakes well. Use a wide ribbon to tie the stakes and the seedling together. Try to fix the tree sparingly; a little play is necessary.
And Most Importantly!
How deep should you plant the tree?
To answer this, find the root collar. It is located where the trunk transitions to the root. The tissues of the root collar are the most vulnerable, so they need protection, ensuring access to sunlight, air, moisture, and protection from freezing, waterlogging, rotting, diseases, pests, animals, and mechanical damage.
The root collar is not very pronounced on a young seedling, and the bark's color can be a clue. The root collar should always be above the soil surface; burying it leads to rot, disease, and often death without apparent reasons.
Water the tree. Use any water at air temperature or slightly more relaxed. The amount depends on soil moisture, but in most cases, it's 10-20 liters.