Planting Around Your Home

Compacted soil around homes requires special care when planting. Follow these steps and you will successfully plant your trees!

Prepare a planting area 3-5 times the diameter for the root ball, and just as deep as the root ball.
Set the tree in a shallow hole on solid ground in the center of the area.
Cut any wires or ropes securing the burlap around the root ball, and push the burlap or wires down flat against the ground to be buried later.
If your tree's root ball has a container, cut and remove it first, then set the tree in the hole. The surface of the root ball should be level with or slightly above the top of the surrounding soil.
Use water instead of your feet to settle the soil, and apply two to four inches of mulch over the entire area (keep the mulch six to eight inches away from the trunk).