Arbor Day in Texas is the first Friday in November. This means it’s tree planting time in North Central Texas. If new trees are in your future, follow these tips from the Texas A&M Forest Service.
Choosing the right tree for the right spot can be intimidating. There are lots of factors to consider – variety, soil, sun, shade requirements, and more. For guidance, by Texas County, visit TAMU’s “Texas Tree Planting Guide” at:
When shopping for trees, you will probably be faced with this question; “Potted or bare-root – Which is best?”. There are pros and cons to both. Bare root is usually more economical but should be planted in early Spring while the tree is dormant. A potted tree will be more expensive but can usually be planted anytime.
TREE PLANTING ADVICE FROM TAMU
Here are top planting recommendations from TAMU biologist Robert Edmondson.
- Between Halloween and Thanksgiving is generally the best time to plant trees in North Texas.
- Dig the planting hole twice as big as the tree’s root ball.
- Fill the planting hole with water and check the drainage. If it takes longer than 24 hours to drain, choose another location.
- Remove all foreign materials from the tree. This includes wires, tapes, burlap, and supports.
- Trim sparingly. Only remove dead and diseased branches
- Set the tree in the hole with the root collar flush or slightly above the natural grade. Planting too deep is a leading cause of newly planted tree mortality.
- Once the tree is placed, gently backfill the planting hole with the same soil that came out of the hole.
- When planting, never lift the tree by the trunk.
- Stake a newly planted tree, only if necessary. Stakes should not be left in place longer than one year.
- Mulch the tree out to the drip line. Mulch should be 2-3 inches deep, but not touch the trunk.
- Protect the tree from animals and humans. Deer, livestock, weed whackers, and mowers are all bad news from young trees. A staked, wire mesh cage at least 3 feet in diameter and 4 feet tall works well.
WATERING YOUR NEW TREE
Watering your new tree is critical – but not too much. Here are watering tips and recommendations from TAMU:
When watering, pour water over the root ball. Do not squirt water at the trunk. Do not overwater. Use 2-4 gallons of water for each inch of trunk diameter (use higher number is summer and lower number in winter.
How much water? Here are TAMU’s “Rules of Thumb” for watering newly planted trees.
Month 1 – Water 3X per week
Month 2 – Water 2X per week
Month 3 – Water 1X per week
Months 4-12 – Water 1X-2X per month
Beyond Year 1 – Water in absence of rain
For these and more tips for new trees see.
https://tfsweb.tamu.edu/arborday/plantingsteps/