Fall can be a great time to plant trees, depending on where you live. You can help your tree reach its full potential by starting it out right with these seven helpful tips for planting a containerized tree.

  1. Positioning your tree, while still in its container, in the exact spot in your yard that you think you want it is a good way to ensure you’ll be happy with its final location before you begin digging. Once it’s planted, you won’t want to move it for yours or its sake.
  2. Make sure your tree ends up in that perfectly selected spot, and you dig the right size hole, by marking the digging zone while it’s still placed. Begin your marking by inserting your shovel into the ground a few inches away from the bottom of your placed container. Continue this action around the circumference of the container to mark the size of the hole. Keep a few inches between your marking and the container. Move your containerized tree to the side and dig where was marked.
  3. Making the bottom of the hole flat will keep your tree from sinking after it’s planted and water from pooling under it.
  4. You can accelerate root growth and tree development by mixing Aqua 3-IA (application rates can be found here) with water and watering when you’re ready to backfill. Aqua 3-IA works great alone or can be mixed with your favorite fertilizer.
  5. Once centered in the hole, the bottom of the tree trunk should be about an inch above ground level. If it’s not, you can add more soil to the bottom of the hole, flatten it and resume to backfill.
  6. Watering your tree, especially during the first two years, can help ensure your tree’s survival. Water at the tree’s dripline to effectively reach the roots.
  7. You can protect your young tree during weed eating by placing a modified, disposable water bottle around the base. Cut the top and bottom off the bottle, and then make a vertical cut up the side. You will be left with a plastic cuff to wrap around the trunk. Make sure to remove and recycle the plastic when our tree reaches a suitable size and it’s no longer needed.
Tree Planting Tips