4 Tips on Caring for Newly Planted Trees

Think back to the day you planted your Arbor Day beauty.

You did your research to find the perfect planting spot for the perfect tree.

Soon, you took to digging (but of course, not too deep), planted your new tree, and filled in the hole with soil to keep it up straight. You didn’t stop there, though. You mulched around it and topped it off with plenty of water.

Since then, you’ve been admiring the beautiful tree that will offer benefits for years to come.

So, now what? Find all the tips you need for caring for newly planted trees below.

Any tips for watering a new tree?

Newly planted trees are under stress due to their new environment, so they’ll need extra love and care! Proper watering is essential to bringing moisture and oxygen to your trees’ roots.

During the first two weeks, deeply water young trees every other day. Then, water a new tree once a week for the first year, while it still has its leaves. Be sure to take rainfall into account before watering, too, and make sure the soil is draining and drying out some between waterings.

Of course, during hot, dry periods or in dry climates, water twice per week during the first year.

How should I mulch my new tree?

Mulch is just what new trees need to retain moisture, control soil temperature and ward off weeds.

You want to avoid piling on too much mulch, though. Known as volcano mulching, this creates a cool, damp environment, which can attract fungi, pests, and diseases. All of these factors stress out your new tree.

Instead, mulch your trees the right way! Begin by choosing the best mulch for trees… organic whole-tree mulch.

Then, apply 2 to 3 inches of mulch around the tree’s drip zone, which is as far as the tree’s leaves grow out. Use a rake to pull mulch 1 to 2 inches from the tree trunk to provide proper air circulation. Renew mulch by adding 1 inch to the surface each year. 

What do I need to know about pruning new trees?

It’s important to trim away minor branch defects at the time of planting, but hold off on further pruning of young trees for at least a year.

Significantly trimming trees in the middle of the growing season can limit their growth potential next year.

When should I be fertilizing newly planted trees?

At Davey, our experts use Arbor Green PRO^® and Arbor Green Xtra plus B (depending on the region) to keep trees nourished each year. The fertilizers are designed to slowly release nutrients uniformly over time, regardless of when they're applied. Our goal is to always make sure your tree has enough nutrients to keep on growing. Slow-release fertilizer applied in the spring or fall will avoid damage which may be caused by the application of quick-release fertilizer. 

Contact us to find out more tips on caring for your trees!