10 Tips For Planting A Tree In Great Falls

One of the greatest additions to any yard are a few nice trees.

But planting a tree may not be as straightforward as you thought it would be.

I personally have planted trees and lost them a year later which needless to say can get rather expensive and frustrating.

Planting A Tree

When it comes to planting a tree, especially here in central Montana, there are a few things you need to take into consideration.

When doing a little research for this article I found some tips and tricks on the Great Falls Parks And Recreation department website.

If you're new to this area, the one bit of advice I'll give you before we get into the details, plan for wind and deer!

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Tree Planting Tips And Tricks

1. Dig the Right Hole

It all starts with a hole in the ground haha. Make sure the hole for your tree is at least twice the size of the root ball or container. This will provide loose soil around the root for the tree to grow.

2. Check the Roots

If you have any dead, damaged, or twisted roots, make sure you prune them.

3. Prep the Soil

Definitely use the soil that you dug out of the hole to backfill the tree. For Sandy soil mix in half peat moss or well-rotted manure with 3/4 topsoil. Remove any rocks or debris.

4. Place and Prepare the Tree

If the tree you purchased is bald and burlapped, remove the top third of the burlap once the tree is in the hole. For trees in a container, removed from the pot entirely. Cut off any rope or twine that is around the trunk.

5. Set Planting Height

The original soil line from when the tree was at the nursery should sit about 1 to 2 inches above the surrounding ground.

6. Backfill and Water

All right, now it's time to fill your hole with dirt, and water the soil in stages to let the soil settle in and eliminate air pockets.

7. Mulch the Base

To help retain moisture and block out weeds, put some mulch 30 inches in a circle around the base of the tree trunk.

8. Stake if Needed

Remember how we were talking about wind, make sure you use a stake to support weaker trees. This is an absolute must in our area. You can use a rubber hose or some sort of fabric strap to help support the tree trunk. Don't just use string this will cause damage.

9. Prune Wisely

Once your tree is planted, you can start pruning dead or broken branches. Only trim the side branches and not the main leader branch.

10. Water Deeply

Make sure and soak your tree after planting and water every 7 to 10 days throughout the growing season.

All right now get out and beautify your yard with some new trees!

READ NEXT: Planting A Future in Great Falls with Tree Donations