#root collar

In South Florida landscapes trees are essential when it comes to offering aesthetics, providing shade which reduces energy use in your home, and providing a home for wildlife to live in. Whether you’re adding an additional tree to your landscape or replacing one that is sick or dead, here are some tips to help you get the job done right the first time.

 PLANTING YOUR NEW TREE

·         Before you begin, look around and make sure there are no obstructions that would prevent your tree from growing properly. Whether it’s a sidewalk, a home exterior wall or a powerline. Be conscious of any obstacles that your tree could encounter in the future.

·         Dig a hole about twice the width of the root ball of your tree at a depth where the root collar is even with or slightly above the soil surface.  The root collar of your tree is the point where the uppermost root emerges from the trunk. You may have to remove some soil from the tree root ball in order to determine where the collar is.

·         Slide the tree into the hole in the position you want it in. This is especially important when planting double and triple trunk trees where the trunks grow out at angles. Begin filling the hole with excavated soil while making sure the tree is straight. Compress the soil with your foot to stabilize the tree.

·         Thoroughly water the root ball and surrounding area of the tree. Add more soil if necessary.

·         Add 3” of mulch around the tree extending 4’ in each direction. Make sure to leave a 6” gap between the trunk of the tree and the mulch in order to provide proper air circulation

·         Stake the tree if necessary. This is a normal step when planting canopy and ornamental trees in South Florida landscapes when they’re top heavy or might be subject to windy conditions .  Make sure to remove the stakes within 1 year.

 CARING FOR YOUR NEW TREE

·         Water your tree frequently to help roots become established. For the first 2 months, make sure to deeply water 2-3 times per week. This can be achieved via hand watering with a hose or a bubbler as part of your irrigation system.

·         After the first couple of months, provide normal weekly irrigation to make sure your new tree is receiving 2-3 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter. This can usually be achieved with a standard irrigation system.

·         Start pruning your tree early to establish a single dominant trunk. This will ensure that the tree grows strong and stable and can resist high South Florida winds.

·         Don’t worry about fertilizing your newly planted tree unless it shows signs that it’s needed. Usually trees will come with a slow release fertilizer in the soil when purchased from the nursery.