Planting Trees
Earlier this week, the Williamson County Master Gardeners and I got to visit a third-generation nursery in De Leon, Texas, that grows and sells many of the pecan and fruit trees that are grown throughout Texas. Winter is a great time of year to plant pecan and fruit trees, so the staff at the nursery were running to fill orders.
If you are thinking about planting trees this month, you need to know some important things about properly planting your tree. You can do everything right in caring for your tree, but improper planting will set you up for heartache.
Pick a site in full sun with enough space for the tree to grow. Check to see how high your tree is expected to grow. Will it reach nearby powerlines or buildings? Does it have enough room for the roots to grow? The roots can extend past the tree canopy, so find plenty of space for the tree to grow up and out.
Trees are sold in containers or as bare-root stock. Dig your hole to be twice as wide as the container or root ball, but only dig it as deep as the container. You need to be very careful that your tree is not planted too deep or too shallow. The point where the top-most root emerges from the trunk needs to be within two inches of the soil surface. Roots require oxygen to grow, and they cannot get oxygen if there is too much soil over the roots. If your tree comes in a container with soil, you might need to dig down into the pot a little to find the top roots, so you know how deep to plant. If the roots are growing in a circle in the pot, cut the roots and spread them out. If you don’t cut circling roots, they will continue to grow in a circle instead of spreading out into the soil.
After you put your tree into the hole, use the original soil to fill the hole back. It’s tempting to add compost, potting soil, or peat moss to give the tree a boost, but do not even think about it! The tree roots need to expand into the soil and grow out, and they will not do that if you create a “pot” for them in the ground with compost or potting soil. Be sure to water thoroughly to help the soil settle and remove air pockets. Add mulch around the tree to help keep the soil moist and regulate soil temperature.
Mark your calendar for Tuesday, February 5, for a workshop on planting and pruning fruit and pecan trees. Dr. Larry Stein, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Horticulture Specialist, will give a workshop with hands-on activities. Register online at https://williamson.agrilife.org/program-registration/.
