Beginning in the Fall of 2024, Happy Tree LLC will begin offering Tree Planting Services to our commercial and residential accounts. Having a professional arborist help with tree selection, planting location, and proper installation of your tree greatly the enhances the prospects of a successful transplant. The end result is a beautiful, healthy, and well….Happy Tree, that will provide years of problem free enjoyment and beauty to your property.
For years we have been communicating this simple fact, if the Right Tree is planted in the Right Spot, for the Right Purpose, arborists would be out of business. So many tree problems are created by poor species selection, poor site selection (the inability to envision a tree’s mature form and habit, and site requirements, and improper installation practices. Let the passionate arborists at Happy Tree assist in your next planting project. You’ll be happy you did.
Planting Trees
Tree Selection and Planting
Right Tree, Right Place
Many trees planted each year by well-meaning homeowners and community workers will never flourish because they are hopelessly unsuited for the conditions in which they are placed. Before rushing in to plant just any available trees, do enough research and planning to ensure success.
Factors to Consider
- Plant hardiness zone and heat tolerance
- Native plant species vs. non-native plant species
- Planting location and surroundings
- Microclimates
- Desired tree function
- Season of planting
Taking a bit of time to plan before putting a tree in the ground will save money and headaches in the future. When choosing a tree, make sure to do a complete site evaluation to understand the conditions and ensure the best tree for the site chosen.
When to Plant
It is best to plant while the trees are dormant in late fall, winter, or early spring.
Deciduous trees planted in the fall, after the heat of summer diminishes, have several months to re-establish their root system and often emerge healthier the next spring than those transplanted in the heat of summer.
Evergreens should only be planted in late winter or early spring – but beware of foliage drying and “winter burn”. Unlike deciduous trees, evergreens hold onto their foliage throughout the winter, and to keep them green they need a lot of moisture. Bright sun and harsh winds in the winter months can cause the needles to lose moisture, and plant roots cannot take up enough water from the soil in frozen ground, which can cause dry foliage and “winter burn”. In newly planted trees where the root system is already too small for the canopy, this problem is made worse.
Planting Different Types of Nursery Stock
Trees may be purchased as bare-root, container-grown, or balled and burlapped. Correct planting and initial maintenance are essential for a long, healthy life for your tree. The most common cause of poor tree health is poor planting: too deep, too shallow, or in too small an area. The objective is to plant the tree so that the root flare at the bottom of the trunk is at (or slightly above) the surrounding ground level.