Stay Green: A Complete Guide to Planting a New Tree or Shrub
It’s exciting to take a new tree or shrub home with you. However, some of that excitement might wear off when it’s time to plant it and you realize you're not quite sure of what you're doing.
Fortunately, the professionals at our parent company, Outdoor Concepts, have your back with this guide to tree and shrub planting. They’ve been in the landscaping business for over 30 years, so they know a thing or two when it comes to caring for new plants.
This guide includes instructions for how to plant your tree or shrub plus how to water and fertilize it afterward, so you’ll know what you need to take care of the newest addition to your landscaping.
It’s also available as a printable version so you can use it again and again.
How to plant your new tree or shrub
Gather supplies
To properly plant your tree or shrub, you’ll want to have the following:
- Shovel
- Rake
- Peat moss
- Fertilizer (see below for recommendations)
- Mulch
- Water
Prepare the hole for the root ball
Dig your planting hole so it’s as deep as the root ball is tall but 8-12 inches wider around.
As you’re digging, pile the dirt on both sides of the hole. This will make refilling the hole easier later on.
Once you have your piles, add peat on top of them. Use approximately one shovelful of peat for a shrub or perennial, two shovelfuls for a small tree, and three shovelfuls of peat for a large tree.
Put the tree down and begin filling the hole
Place the tree in the hole so the top of the root ball is 1-2 inches above grade. (That is, it’s 1-2 inches past the top of the soil in the surrounding area.)
Backfill with the peat/soil mix halfway up the root ball and stomp/tamp down firmly.
Cut the rope from around the tree trunk that covers the top of the root ball. Bend the wires from the basket down. Leave the wire basket on the ball.
If there is a tag or nylon rope on your tree, remove it so that it doesn’t deform or choke it.
Check your work and finish filling the hole
Before continuing, make sure the tree is straight or slightly leaning to the west.
Finish filling the hole with the peat/soil mix and tamp it firmly into a coned slope with the trunk at the center peak. This will allow water to drain away from the plant.
Do not place more than 1 inch of soil on top of the ball at the base of the tree.
Finishing touches: mulch and water your tree or shrub
Place 3-4 inches of mulch on top of the planted area. Don’t get more than a couple of inches of mulch around the stem—it will rot the bark and suffocate the tree.
Once the mulch has been placed, water the newly installed plant.
- For shrubs/perennials, water with a hose for 1 minute (5 gallons).
- For small trees, water for 2 minutes (10 gallons).
- For large trees, water for 3 minutes (15 gallons).
Watering your new tree or shrub going forward
When the weather is hot (high temps in the 80s–90s), you’ll need to water your new trees/shrubs within a week of being planted and then once every two weeks thereafter.
Willows, birches, hydrangeas, and grasses can be watered one extra time in between the recommended watering schedule below.
- Perennials: 1/2 – 1 minute with a hose (three gallons of water)
- Shrubs/Bushes: 1 – 1 1/2 minutes with a hose (five gallons of water)
- Trees: 2-3 minutes with a hose (ten to fifteen gallons of water)
It takes a while to dry out the soil 1 – 2 feet deep. After giving your plant a good watering, don’t water it again for a week or two.
If you have pines and spruces, you should know that they DO NOT like wet roots.
Pro tip: to tell if your new plant needs watering, push aside a patch of mulch about one foot away from the trunk, then dig your finger three inches into the soil. If you can make a ball of dirt with your finger, you shouldn’t need to water.
Make sure you do not overwater your plants. Overwatering is a leading cause of plant death.
Fertilizing your new tree or shrub
To keep your plant healthy (especially in clay soil), you may fertilize around the base of your tree or shrub every spring and fall (March and November). We recommend using 20-10-10 or 16-16-16 fertilizer.
- Use one handful of fertilizer per perennial or shrub.
- Use one handful of fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter for trees.
Quick Q&A review
How often should I water my new tree/shrub?
You should water your new tree or shrub immediately after it is planted.
After that, you should water it once every two weeks or so. However, for willows, birches, hydrangeas, and grasses, you can water it once a week.
How much water does my new tree/shrub need?
For perennials, you should use three gallons of water.
For shrubs or bushes, you should use five gallons of water.
For trees, you should use ten to fifteen gallons of water.
What fertilizer does my new tree/shrub need?
We recommend using a 20-10-10 or a 16-16-16 fertilizer.
How much fertilizer does my new tree/shrub need?
Use one handful of fertilizer for a shrub or perennial.
Use one handful of fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter for a tree.
When should I fertilize my new tree/shrub?
We recommend fertilizing twice a year, once in spring (March) and once in fall (November).
Conclusion
We hope this planting guide has been helpful as you make a new addition to your landscaping.
Don’t forget to read our other lawn and garden blogs, such as our guide to early spring lawn care or our five-step fertilizer program for your lawn.
Plus, if you need parts for your lawn care equipment, check out our selection. We just might have what you need.
Printable tree and shrub planting guide
Want the info above in a reusable, printable version? We've got your back.
If it doesn't display below, you can also find it here: tree and shrub planting guide.
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