Newly Planted Trees

You are the proud owner of a newly bought tree and now all you need to do is keep it alive. Sounds easy, but it's surprising how few people get it right. Here are a few easy to follow steps to help make sure your newly planted tree stays alive and healthy in it's first few years.


Weeding

Any plants growing in the immediate area where the tree has been planted will complete with the tree for water, nutrients and light so making sure your freshly planted tree has as little competition as possible is really important to ensure the tree establishes itself properly. This is important for the first 4 or 5 years until the tree has had chance to get established.

Generally, if the tree is planted in a lawn, it is best to plant the tree within a circle of turf approximately a metre across to give it the best possible start.


Mulching

Mulching can reduce the number of weeds the tree will be competing with enormously whilst conserving moisture and reducing extremes in temperature. Specific mulch mats are available for trees, but bark, leaf mould, or well rotted manure will do just as well to a depth of 8 to 10cm. It is important that the bark does not touch the tree in order to reduce the risk of disease and prevent rotting.


Watering

Many people do not realise the importance of thoroughly watering newly planted trees, ensuring water gets to all the roots, especially through dry periods. If water does not get to all the roots, the plants are discouraged from sending out roots into the surrounding soil and therefore establishing well.

The most common reason for poor survival of a newly planted tree is inconsistent watering.


Feeding

Feeding is not necessary in the first growing season. This is because it is a good idea to let the plant grow in search of nutrients (and to a lesser extent water) itself creating a healthy root system. If the soil is particularly infertile, then a feed in the following year of planting will help. Apply a balanced fertilizer in spring following the instructions.


Formative pruning

Pruning to establish a well shaped tree is best carried out when the tree is young. This could be removing diseased or damaged stems or one of two competing leader stems. The lower branches on feathered trees may also need to be removed in stages over the first few years.


Adjusting ties and removing stakes

Ties should be inspected in spring and in autumn and adjusted where necessary to prevent the stem being constricted or not giving the support it needs. Adjust where necessary. The tree should no longer need the stake which was added when planted after 2 seasons. This is because it should have produced enough root growth to anchor the tree in place on its own accord.


Miscellaneous

Keep an eye on your tree to check for signs of ill health. In most caes, the tree will be strong enough to overcome small problems on it's own. Never use strimmers on grass around the base of the tree. The bark will be damaged and the tree will die. Avoid using pesticides close to the tree. Sprays will drift across and contact with bark or leaves will damage the tree.

If the weather in spring is cold, the newly planted tree may take longer to create roots than other trees of the same species in the same vicinity. The chances are that the trees is taking a little longer to come around from it's period of dormancy and is normal. Keep watering on a regular basis and wait!

It does take time to see full results of newly planted trees. You will not see a massive amount of growtrh on top for the first couple of years as it is more important that the trees roots get established. Once this has happened, the growth patterns of the leaves and branches will fall into those of more mature trees.