How to Plant a TreeWritten by http://www.home-and-garden-decor.net
Selecting right tree for right place is a good first step in any landscape design, but proper planting also is important for getting your tree off to a good start. Trees are like all living creatures. They require more attention in beginning to promote a long, healthy life.Carefully choose planting site. Trees are difficult to move once they are established. Check with local authorities for regulations on placement of trees. Some communities have ordinances restricting placement of trees within a specified distance of a street, sidewalk, streetlight, or other utilities. BEFORE DIGGING, make sure that all underground utilities are clearly marked. You wouldn’t want to cut off electric power to your community or risk injury. Carefully follow planting instructions that come with your tree. If specific instructions are not available, follow these tips: Dig a hole about twice size of tree’s root ball, or about one foot wider than root system. The hole should be slightly shallower than root ball. If soil is especially heavy or wet, consider planting tree slightly higher. Remove all materials from root mass. This includes wires, string, burlap, and biodegradable containers. Neglecting this will hinder proper root growth. Gently place tree in center of hole and position it to grow straight. If tree has a prettier side, place it in direction most frequently viewed. If planting a bare root tree, carefully spread roots. Crumble soil removed from hole and cover roots with it. As you add soil to fill in around tree, lightly tamp soil to collapse air pockets, or add water to help settle soil. Air pockets around roots can be devastating to a newly planted tree. Add about four inches of mulch--wood chips, shredded bark, or grass clippings--around base of tree, extending out to tips of outermost branches. A 3-foot diameter circle of mulch is common. Mulching will retain moisture, reduce weeds, maintain a more even soil temperature, and eliminate mowing next to delicate bark. Be sure to pull mulch away from tree trunk because decomposing mulch can cause rot problems. Finally, give tree a thorough watering. If root ball is extremely dry, allow water to trickle into soil by placing hose at trunk of tree. Young trees need protection against rodents, frost cracks, sunscald, lawnmowers, and weed whackers. Plastic guards are an inexpensive and easy control method. Light colored tree wraps can be used to protect trunk from sunscald. Usually, staking trees is not necessary unless you live in an area with high winds.
| | Trees in the Home LandscapeWritten by http://www.home-and-garden-decor.net
Trees add so much to home landscape! They provide shade, clean air, habitat for wildlife, value to your property, and even memories.If your yard does not have any trees at moment, you may want to consider planting some. Studies have shown that trees and landscaping add value to your property. Even if you do not intend to sell your property, trees can provide years of enjoyment. If you have trees in your yard, check to see that they are healthy. If they are near end of their life expectancy or show signs of decline, you may want to plant new trees that will become established before old trees are removed. If properly located and planted, trees can help control energy costs. A large shade tree planted on southwest side of house can provide cooling shade in summer, helping reduce air conditioning costs. Once leaves drop in fall, winter sun is free to warm your house on cold winter days. Evergreen trees, planted to block cold winter winds, can help reduce winter heating costs. Have you wondered what you could do to reduce greenhouse gases and address global warming? Planting trees will help! One of greenhouse gases causing most concern is carbon dioxide. Plants take this gas out of air and use it in photosynthesis. Carbon is stored in wood and living tissues of trees. When leaves fall and are composted, carbon is added to soil. This improves soil for plant growth and stores more of carbon in form of soil organic matter. Carbon can be stored for hundreds of years in trunks of trees or in form of lumber, furniture, and other wood products. By planting trees in your yard, you can help reduce greenhouse gases.
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