Shrub and Tree Planting Guidelines

Step 1
Dig a hole that is no deeper than the rootball so that the rootball rests on solid soil. Make the hole about twice as wide as the rootball. Set all trees and shrubs in the hole so that the top of the rootball is no more than 1" above the soil line with room on the sides for a mixture of peat humus, compost, or native soil. Do not add the mixture yet.

Step 2
Untie burlap and roll it down away from the rootball and leave rootball sitting on top of it. Carefully pull tiny feeding roots away from soil with a fork.

Step 3

Place mixture of peat humus, compost, etc. around the sides of the rootball and pack it down so the mixture is just slightly above the soil line - it will settle.

Step 4

Cover the soil shredded bark extending out from the tree 16" all around. Pile the mulch to about 3-4" deep, then scrape the mulch back about 3" all around the trunk to form a "moat."