As the saying goes, “Great people are ones who plant trees whose shade they may never sit under.”
But plant the right tree in the right place, the right way.
The right way to plant a tree:
Shown in the photo above, notice how the top of the root ball of the transplant is EVEN with the top of the soil level. DO NOT ever put additional soil on top of the root ball. It would be like holding a pillow over your face. You could suffocate. Trees need to breathe, too. Their roots needs not only water but also air to penetrate into the soil. Adding fill kills. Period.
Please don't add soil, mulch, or fill more than 1" above the soil level. Many landscapers are either ignorant of this fact or they want to sell more mulch or fill. Do not allow them to do this.
If you have construction around your house, do not allow the builder to fill over the tree's roots. Those trees will die, without a doubt. It can take a few years for the tree to die, so the builder doesn't seem to be responsible, but is.
Don’t just plant what you think looks good.
There are plenty of resources you can access to learn how to plant the tree that will survive, thrive, and contribute to the total environment.
If you are in the USA, a good resource is your state's University Extension service. There are usually documents showing how to plant and suggesting trees for your area.
With so many "invasive" organisms entering ecosystems, it's wise to plant local or "native" species.
There's another, more creative thing you can do.
If you have good feelings or intuition, you can also ASK your land what kind of trees are best for it. Here at TreeProtector.org and at our sister site, PartnerWithNature.org, we teach the skills of expanded intuition and ASKING Nature what it needs.
Find a detailed explanation about how to plant/transplant a tree at Do for Trees #7: Transplant Properly
Click on the link to go to each of the 10 Easy Ways to Be a Tree Protector
#1 Love Trees
#2 Go for Walks; Really See Trees
#3 Recognize Trees as Living Beings
#4 Celebrate Trees
#5 Plant Trees
#6 Come From the Tree’s Point of View
#7 Do Holistic Tree Care
#8 Join the Millions of People who Talk TO and WITH Trees
#9 Open Up Dinner Conversations
#10 Speak FOR Trees
Please check our sister website: PartnerWithNature.org.
