Caring for a Newly Planted Tree

​Proper planting is only a part of what you must do to ensure your tree thrives. A newly planted tree needs comprehensive care. Its establishment can take years, but you can speed up your planted tree’s growth by caring for it. Here’s some quality insight and advice on planting a tree.

Consistent Watering

​When you plant a tree in your compound, you move it to a new environment, occasioning stress. Therefore, it needs proper watering to provide sufficient moisture and enable the roots to absorb oxygen. Deep watering is essential during the first 14 days of planting. After that, you can water your tree once per week. However, examine the soil to ensure it has proper drainage. Sandy and gravelly soils require frequent watering, while clay and silt soils need less watering.

Mulching

Mulching helps the ground to conserve water. However, you must do it right to ensure your plant’s health. Please keep mulch 3 inches away from the tree trunk. Avoid piling mulch against your tree because it can trap moisture at the root crown where the root ball meets the tree trunk. If this happens, it may cause wood decay and rot, and your tree will eventually fail.
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Also, spread the mulch out to the ground beneath the farthest-reaching branch. That way, you’ll increase the roots’ ability to absorb nutrients and water from the soul. Moreover, ensure the mulch layer is about 2 to 4 inches thick. Organic matter, such as wood chips, weed whips, and mower trunks, is among the best mulching materials.

Apply Fertilizers

Your yard’s soil has only a few nutrients that your tree needs to remain healthy and thrive. Therefore, apply fertilizers to supply the nutrients your tree needs but are absent in your yard’s soil. However, you may not use any fertilizer during the first few seasons. When you eventually apply fertilizer, do it sparingly. Also, broadcast the fertilizer evenly around the tree’s base, covering the circle or diameter the branches form. Additionally, talk to a specialist about the fertilizer to apply, especially if your tree shows signs of distress or weakness.

Prune Conservatively

​Your new tree will typically not require pruning for the first two years. If you prune a bur-lapped or balled tree, remove its food-producing leaves. However, remove broken or dead branches immediately. To prevent future splitting, prune V-shaped crotches or low forks in tree trunks. Also, you can remove lower side branches from the trunk to promote the formation of a shade tree. Nevertheless, ensure the branch collar remains intact when removing unhealthy branches from the tree trunk.

Control Pests and Diseases

Diseases and pests can damage a newly planted tree by destroying the foliage, especially during early summer and spring. Some insects to control include inchworms, loopers, bagworms, and caterpillars. Also, monitor for diseases like leaf rust, anthracnose, and fire blight.
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Please get in touch with a professional arborist at Brampton Tree Service if you encounter persistent diseases or pests. Nevertheless, follow these tips to care for a newly planted tree, and you’ll be glad you did once your tree blossoms.