How to Care for Your New Tree

Water the tree, slowly and deeply. It’s best to let water trickle very slowly onto the tree roots, so it doesn’t create a puddle or run onto the sidewalk. Let a hose drip at the lowest setting for an hour, or use a 5-gallon bucket with small nail holes in the bottom. Try to water at least 10 gallons per week unless there is steady rainfall or frost.

Keep the tree pit or tree lawn tidy. Ongoing: Remove weeds, grass, and trash. Annually: Gently loosen the soil to allow more water and oxygen to penetrate through the top three inches of soil. This is where most of the tree’s root hairs are and how the tree absorbs water and nutrients.

Mulch your tree. Using woodchips, licorice root mulch, or fine leaf mold, cover the tree planting area to 3”-4” depth. Create a ring 2”-3” high and as wide as the outer dripline, if possible. Remember not to pile mulch up against the trunk; expose the trunk root flare. This prevents moisture and insects from accumulating around the bark. Repeat annually.

Keep dogs and cats from relieving themselves in the tree pit, if possible. Dog and cat urine and feces are very alkaline and can harm roots.

Remove any stakes and wires from newly planted trees after one year.

DON’T feed your newly planted tree or fertilize during a drought. Forcing a water-stressed tree to grow will only cause further stress. Also, granular chemical fertilizer is a salt that could dehydrate the tree.

DON’T prune heavily except to remove dead, diseased, or damaged branches. Removing more than one third of healthy branches will substantially weaken the tree. Never “top” your tree.

DON’T put trash bags or cans out around the tree. Trash compacts soil and can allow potentially toxic substances to leak onto the roots.

Protect the tree. You may want to install tree pit guards, bollards, or other obstacles to keep your tree from being damaged by car doors, bicycles, dogs, etc. Trunk wounds can invite disease and weaken the tree.

Enjoy your new tree!

From UC Green, Inc., 3616 Lancaster Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104, 215.573.4684, www.ucgreen.org