{"id":6572,"date":"2016-03-17T08:00:38","date_gmt":"2016-03-17T08:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/?p=6572"},"modified":"2026-04-24T15:57:23","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T19:57:23","slug":"top-5-tree-planting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/top-5-tree-planting\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 5 List for Tree Selection and Planting"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"BalledSpring is a prime time for improving your property with new trees. They provide many benefits\u00a0which everyone can share. Trees mean more attractive landscapes, lower energy bills and a\u00a0healthier environment. However, just planting a tree without some thought and planning can\u00a0create a liability rather than an asset to your site. Wise planning is essential to ensure the new\u00a0trees meet your design needs and functional solutions as well. Follow these tips to get your tree\u00a0started right and make it a long-lasting sustainable planting. For more information, download the\u00a0free publication Tree Installation: Process and Practice<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Right Tree-Right Place.<\/strong>
\nLocation, location, location! Planning before planting can help ensure that the right tree is\u00a0planted in the right place. Proper tree selection and placement enhances your property value,\u00a0prevents costly and sometimes unsightly maintenance trimming, and lowers the risk of damage to\u00a0your home and property. In some instances, trees are the innocent victim of poor planting\u00a0locations and must be removed. Always allow room for growth!<\/p>\n

Look Up, Look Down, and Look All around!<\/strong>
\nRegardless if the planting is in the front yard or the back yard of the home or business, be sure\u00a0there will be no interference with utilities; Call 811 before you dig. It can save money and maybe\u00a0a life. In addition, if the tree is going to be planted along the street, typically, there is an\u00a0ordinance requiring a permit to plant in the right of way. This is a free permit helping City\u00a0Forestry keep up the street tree inventory and allows the Certified Arborists on staff a chance to\u00a0offer free advice to help in the planting decisions.\"Young<\/p>\n

It comes from good stock\u2026<\/strong>
\nChoose the tree twice, meaning get the right species for your location and make an informed\u00a0choice on the nursery stock. Be sure the function of the tree is understood then choose the right\u00a0tree for the location. Shade? Flowers? Screening? Sound Barrier? Trees can be used as tools to\u00a0work for you on the site. \u201cYou get what you pay for\u201d applies to nursery stock as well. Purchase\u00a0plant material from a reputable source and get a professional opinion on the tree species for your\u00a0application. One hint, if it is a fast growing tree, it probably won\u2019t last long.<\/p>\n

This Hole is a Home!<\/strong>
\nIt is a permanent home for the trees\u2026 understand the planting site prior to planting. Determine\u00a0soil type and pH, drainage and exposure to the sun. If the tree isn\u2019t naturally suited to the\u00a0planting place, it doesn\u2019t have a chance. Drainage is crucial to survival. Use the two-hour test.\u00a0Dig the hole, fill it with water. If the hole is empty upon returning, there is suitable drainage for\u00a0any tree. Plant the tree properly and at the proper depth, you only get one chance\u2026 Don\u2019t dig a\u00a0$10 hole for a $100 tree.<\/p>\n

Keep good care of the investment.<\/strong>
\nOnce the tree is in the ground, take good care of it. At least an inch of water per week to keep it\u00a0growing vigorously, apply clean, hardwood mulch on the root zone to keep soils cool and moist,\u00a0but never exceed three inches in depth. Remember to remove any tags on the tree and don\u2019t\u00a0forget to remove the twine from around the trunk. Don\u2019t worry about the fertilizer at planting\u00a0time; wait until next year, after the tree has gotten settled in to its new home. Enjoy your new\u00a0addition to the home and landscape!<\/p>\n

Resources:<\/strong>
\nTree Installation: Process and Practice<\/a> – The Education Store, Purdue Extension Resource Center
\nPlanting & Transplanting Landscape Trees and Shrubs<\/a> – The Education Store
\nTrees Need a Proper Start – Plant Them Right!<\/a> – Purdue Extension
\nTree Pruning Essentials<\/a> – The Education Store
\nTree Risk Management<\/a> – The Education Store<\/p>\n

Lindsey Purcell<\/a>, Urban Forestry Specialist
\nPurdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Spring is a prime time for improving your property with new trees. They provide many benefits\u00a0which everyone can share. Trees mean more attractive landscapes, lower energy bills and a\u00a0healthier environment. However, just planting a tree without some thought and planning can\u00a0create a liability rather than an asset to your site. Wise planning is essential to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[80,45,53],"tags":[249,247,248],"class_list":["post-6572","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-trees","category-howto","category-urbanforestry","tag-tree-installation","tag-tree-planting","tag-tree-selection","audience-for-enthusiasts","audience-for-homeowners"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6572","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6572"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6572\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":9846,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6572\/revisions\/9846"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6572"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6572"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.purdue.edu\/fnr\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6572"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}