A good shade tree can outlive the house it shades, but only if it gets a good start. The most common mistakes happen in the first hour: planting too deep, piling mulch against the trunk and leaving circling roots in place.
1. Pick the right tree and spot
Check the mature size, not the size in the pot. Keep large shade trees at least 15 to 20 feet from the house and well clear of power lines. Before digging, call or click 811 to have buried utilities marked. It's free.
2. Dig wide, not deep
Dig a hole two to three times as wide as the root ball but no deeper than it. Roots spread sideways into loosened soil. Rough up the sides of the hole if they're slick, especially in clay.
3. Find the root flare
The root flare is where the trunk widens as it becomes roots. It must sit at or slightly above ground level. Nursery trees are often buried too deep in their containers, so scrape away soil from the top of the root ball until you find the first main root. Planting too deep slowly suffocates roots and is a leading cause of tree decline.
4. Fix the roots
- Container trees: Tease apart circling roots and cut any that wrap around the ball. Left alone, they can girdle the tree years later.
- Balled and burlapped trees: Once the tree is in the hole, cut away the wire basket, twine and as much burlap as you can reach.
5. Backfill with native soil
Refill with the soil you dug out. Heavy amendments create a pot-like hole that roots don't want to leave. Water halfway through backfilling to settle air pockets, then finish filling and water again.
6. Mulch like a donut, not a volcano
Spread 2 to 4 inches of mulch in a wide circle, keeping it a few inches away from the trunk. Mulch piled against bark holds moisture and invites rot and pests.
7. Stake only if needed
Most trees don't need staking. If yours is top-heavy or in a windy spot, stake loosely so the trunk can sway, and remove stakes after one growing season.
8. Water through establishment
Plan on regular deep watering for the first one to two years, and up to three in hot, dry regions. Soak the root zone slowly rather than sprinkling daily. Check soil moisture a few inches down before watering again.
Use the "Shade trees" and "Small trees" collections in the plant explorer to see trees suited to your county.