Planting Trees

So you bought tree, now what?   Dig a hole, put tree in hole, fill up hole...right?  Yeah, pretty much.   However, there are some trees that are not properly suited to your soil and climatic conditions.   That is what this article is about the planting of tree to ensure survival of an investment of both time and money.

Do I have your attention?

First of all, lets assume the tree is near where you would like to plant it.   Is this a good spot?  Look at the tag and hopefully you asked some good questions at the nursery.   You did ask good questions at the nursery, didn't you?  The biggest consideration is sunlight tolerance.  Is the site sunny, shady or somewhere in between?  This something to ask your nurseryman, usually the tags are written in climates different than we have in Central Oklahoma and can be wrong, so ask.  Second is tree size.  Usually the tags are spot on here, but sometimes Oklahoma clay and wind can stunt growth.  Are there structures in the way? If so, do you mind regular pruning? What about driveway or sidewalks that the trunk or roots could damage? Does the tree fruit? You may not want it near you car. Maybe fall litter will clog your gutters. Things to think about. The last major consideration is water. Is the area higher and dry or low and wet? Is it an area you can get water to easily? There are other things to think about but these are the major points. Now that you have thought about them it is time to go pick a tree, go ahead, I'll wait...

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