How To Plant A Tree

Oakridge On-Site
Daemon Coughlin, an outdoor specialist at Oakridge Nursery & Landscaping, shows you how to plant a tree and provides tips to make sure your trees are setup for stable & healthy growth for years to come.

Potted Trees

1. Dig a hole the same depth as the tree’s pot, and 3-4″ wider than the pot.
2. Slice all the way around the bottom of the pot and remove.
3. Cut once side of the pot about 3/4 of the pot’s height, starting at the bottom.
4. Place the potted tree into your hole and straighten.
5. Fill 1/3 of the hole with dirt, pack dirt in place, and ensure tree is straight.
6. Fill the remaining 2/3rds of the hole with dirt, packing in between fills, until full.
7. Place a 3 foot diameter circle of mulch around the trunk to protect the trunk and keep tree roots moist.
8. Mix 2oz of root stimulator to 5 gallons of water, and pour around tree.

Bareroot Trees

Bareroot trees are available in the spring and late fall when trees are dormant.

1. Dig a hole wide enough to fit (not cram) roots into it, and deep enough to match the height of the tree’s graft.
2. Prune ends of larger roots to encourage fiborous root growth.
3. Set your tree in the hole and fill the hole with dirt 1/3 of depth at a time, packing in between.
4. Place a 3 foot diameter circle of mulch around the trunk to protect the trunk and keep tree roots moist.
5. Mix 2oz of root stimulator to 5 gallons of water, and pour around tree.
6. Stake your bareroot tree for at least the first season after planning.
7. Add trunk protection around your new, young tree’s trunk.