Planting

Before Planting

Pick The Right season

Research your tree species and guidelines for planting in your area. Some species are very hardy, and your climate may be mild enough that planting can be done any time of the year, but the best time for planting is often Spring through early Summer, or perhaps in the Autumn, especially where seasons are harsher. 

If your area has a dry and wet season, planting will probably be most successful around the beginning of the rainy season, giving the plants time to get established before the dry weather sets in.

Progressive Planting

This method means that older trees can shelter younger trees, and that there will always been younger trees to replace older trees as they grow sick or old. This is also a good method if you are only just getting into tree planting and/or if you are working with a restricted budget. If trees in the first year die, then it gives you time to evaluate what went wrong, and find solutions such as alternative species, soil/hole amendments, improved watering, maybe providing protections via shade or fencing.

Starting with a smaller number of trees also lowers the risk of not getting around to planting them all in time, for example you may start digging only to find the ground is unexpectedly solid/compact. 

Spacing

There are several ways to space plants including trees. 

Microforest (Dense Thicket)

For maximizing carbon absorption, and other benefits such as higher biodiversity, you can also crowd multiple tree species more tightly together than is typically suggested. When planted closer together, trees can easily fill in the space of one another when inevitable die offs happen during droughts, freezes, or other harmful events. Trees can also help shade one another from harsh sun and wind.

Standard Spacing

For shade trees you can plant them wide enough to let them grow to their full size with little to no room between. 

Wide/Agricultural Spacing

If they are to be used for harvesting fruit, then you may want to plan for the full grown size of the tree, then add some extra room for people or machines to move between them. 

Hole Requirements

Hole Size & Soil Amendments

Trees generally do best when you dig a hole bigger than the root ball, add some nutritious soil, or if they need additional drainage you may need to add sand, gravel, perlite or other amendments so to prevent root rot.

Prevent Root Rot

Dig the hole a little deeper and wider than the root ball, then take your shovel and stab at the bottom and edges of the hole to make the surface area uneven. If you don't do this, and the edges/bottom of the hole are too smooth, then this can create a bowl that holds water, and kills the plant during heavy rain or watering.

Correct Depth

This changes for each species, so look up what type you are working will to see if they need to be planted exactly at the same level their soil is currently at, slightly below, or slightly above. Some plants won't mind too much if they are planted slightly off, but for many species the wrong depth can be deadly.

Watering & Moisture Retention

Water Immediately

Water is life, and should be applied as soon as the planting is completed. Hold your plant gently, and use your boot to gently press down all the way around the base to compact the soil, and push out air pockets. Water all around the freshly dug area to complete this process and give the tree what it needs to start growing it's roots into the soil of it's new home.

Long-Term Watering Strategies

This is critical for tree survival. You may be lucky enough to live in a place where very little watering is needed, but young trees are especially vulnerable to droughts and heat waves. Having a long-term plan can help reduce catastrophe after putting in the effort to plant and grow your trees.

Cactus Pads for Arid Climates

One of our Native American contributor explained that cactus pads can be used around the base of a freshly planted tree to help seal in water, which is particularly helpful when working in hot, arid climates. The cactus pads have a long-lasting gel that holds water even as the cactus begins to break down, but that the cactus also works like a mulch which eventually breaks down and provides additional nutrition to the plant.

Steep Slope Solution

Swales are only appropriate for a certain range of slopes. Too shallow and the water won't flow, too steep, and the swales can make the hillside unstable. 

Feeding

Right After Planting

All plants need nutrients, but a feeding at the same time or right after planting can shock the plant. It is generally best to wait a few weeks, and start with a smaller amount of nutrients than established plants would require.

Feeding Schedule

Plants generally do best with fairly frequent feeding during the growing season. This can be solid or liquid, but all fertilizer types should be applied during dry weather to avoid rain water from washing nutrient run off into waterways. 

Where to Apply

Apply around the drip line, as this is the best place for roots to absorb the nutrients. The drip line is generally around the outer reaches of the leaves above, where rain water rolls off the leaves, and lands above the outer reaches of the roots beneath the soil. As the plant grows, the drip line will expand outward. Some species collect water with their leaves, and lets the liquid roll down towards the center of the plant. Their roots will be concentrates closer to the center of the plant.

Pruning

Pruning is an important method for keeping plants healthy. It can reduce the weight of branches, reduce how much nutrients the plant needs to split up among too many limbs which can reduce fruit quality, or cause imbalance which can cause the tree to topple or break limbs. Pruning can also allow better light and rain infiltration. Gardeners can also use pruning time as an opportunity to check the health of the plant, remove any sick or dead limbs, suckers, or simply to reshape the plant into a more aesthetic shape.

• How to Prune Banana Trees

• How to Prune Citrus Trees

• How to Prune Your Fruit Trees

Farmland Planting

Large animals including deer, elephants, and livestock can do serious damage to trees before they have a chance to grow, so you may have to start your project with protective fencing, which may later be removed once the plants are an appropriate size.

Planting Orientations

Hedgerows & Wind Breaks

When planted along the edges of fields, trees and bushes can help act as wind breaks, which reduces erosion, provides shade for livestock and crops. The plants also act as cover for beneficial species including insects and birds who then help control pest species, reducing or eliminating the need for pesticides. The reduced erosion from wind and water, means more nutrients stay in fields, also reducing costs.

Hedgerows have historically been used throughout Europe to divide farm land, and keep in livestock, but they are also vital corridors for wildlife. 

Lone Shade Trees

Trees can be a huge help on farms when planted as shade trees in fields. These shade trees take up minimal space, but provide important resting spots for migratory birds, and can improve crop yields. This method has significantly improved life for African Farmers, reducing irrigation requirements, while providing additional firewood and other resources.

Maps

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USA

• Direct Native Plants: Find Your Growing Zone