Before the Best Season to Plant Trees Approaches - Considerations

The perfect time to begin planning for a new tree is fast approaching. Homeowners who may have attempted and failed to raise a healthy tree from sapling to maturity have learned the hard way; while it may seem as simple as digging a hole and inserting a sapling, there are actually just as many wrong ways to plant a tree as there are right. Tree service professionals see the same thing, year after year - simple mistakes lead to dead saplings. To avoid the need for a removal expert any time in the near future, make sure to take into account the following factors before making any major decisions:

The Basics

First things first: check with city regulations. There are often specifications about how far trees must be planted from power lines, roads, homes, property lines, gas lines, etc. Really, the list can go on forever. It is important to figure these things out even before picking a species of tree – there should be resources on your state. The last thing a homeowner wants is a fine for damages to city property. After the legal restrictions are out of the way, consider the available planting space left in your yard. Now you are ready to get down to the more enjoyable aspects of this beautiful home improvement.

Species

We always recommend native trees for their hardiness and bountiful environmental benefits. Although this does not necessarily narrow your selection, your options may be somewhat limited by certain attributes of each type of tree. Size, growth rate, required maintenance, and of course, aesthetics often play a major role when a homeowner is shopping for a tree. None of these should be ignored, because they can take up a lot of your time and affect property value a great deal.

Placement

This is where the basics and the species come together in the final decision. Consider current and future arrangements of vegetation near the planting area. Will the tree canopy obscure light once the tree is mature? Will the final root length interfere with a home’s foundation or any other permanent fixtures? Does the root structure form deep enough as to not interfere with other nearby trees or plants? These are all questions that a tree service professional would have no trouble answering, but the homebrew solution is to research, research, research!

Have fun, and happy planning!