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How to Plant a Tree or Shrub

1. Before you reach for the shovel, make sure you select a plant according to the site that will become its new home. Consider the amount of sunlight the site receives, soil moisture, and space.

2. Once you’re ready to plant, grab a shovel and get to work. Dig the hole 2-3 times wider than the root ball, but no deeper.

3. Remove the plastic pot from your plant and set the plant in the center of the hole.

4. Amend your soil if necessary. Many of eastern North Carolina’s native soils are just fine for growing plants without adding any amendments at all. However, any plant can benefit from adding compost to the soil. If your soil is particularly sandy or clayey, some soil amending is definitely in order. Sandy soil will need organic matter such as peat moss or compost to hold moisture and nutrients. Clay soil may need to be amended with sand and organic matter to help loosen it and improve drainage. In extreme situations, creating a raised bed may be the only solution to dealing with drainage problems created by extremely clayey soil.

5. Fill the remaining void around your plant with soil and tamp lightly to remove any large air spaces.

6. Place a 3-4” layer of mulch, preferably a shredded wood mulch or pine straw, over the top of the planting. Mulch is very important to the health of the new plant for several reasons. It helps maintain moisture in the soil. It moderates soil temperature by keeping it cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter. And it contributes to overall soil health by adding organic matter to the soil as the mulch breaks down.

7. Finally, water your new plant thoroughly. In the first year, water is the most valuable contribution to assuring that your new plant has what it needs to establish a healthy root system. Insufficient amounts of water or too much water can have detrimental effects. So, water slow and deep. And check for soil dryness with your hands before watering again.

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