Insights
How to Plant a Tree So It Actually Thrives
Most trees that fail in the first two years were let down at planting, not by the plant itself. The good news is that planting well is not complicated, and the same method works for natives, fruit trees and ornamentals alike.
Start with the hole. Dig it twice as wide as the root ball but no deeper. Width matters because feeder roots grow sideways through the topsoil, and loosened ground either side gives them an easy run. Depth is where people go wrong: a hole deeper than the root ball lets the tree sink as the soil settles, and a buried stem is one of the most common reasons a young tree quietly declines. The top of the root ball should sit level with the surrounding ground, or a touch above it in heavy soil.
Before the tree goes in, check the roots. If they are circling the inside of the bag or pot, tease them loose or make a few shallow cuts down the sides of the root ball. Circling roots left alone can strangle the trunk years later.
Backfill with the soil you dug out, improved with a few handfuls of compost, and firm it in stages so there are no air pockets. Resist the urge to fill the hole with straight potting mix; roots stay in the soft stuff and never venture into the native soil around it.
Water deeply straight after planting, even if rain is due. This settles the soil around the roots and removes the air gaps that dry roots out. Then mulch a wide circle around the tree, about a hand deep, keeping the mulch clear of the trunk itself. Mulch holds moisture, evens out soil temperature and keeps the mower and weedeater at a respectful distance, which saves more young trees than most people realise.
Stake only if the site is windy, and stake low and loose. A tree that can flex in the wind builds a stronger trunk and better anchoring roots than one strapped rigid. Two short stakes with a soft tie in a figure of eight is plenty, and the stakes should come out after the first year.
Through the first summer, give the tree a deep soak once or twice a week rather than a daily sprinkle. By the second year a well planted tree in the right spot should be looking after itself, which is exactly the aim.