Avoid These Common Tree-Planting and Care Mistakes

These are some common planting and care mistakes that I am seeing when consulting with clients for their newly-planted and mature trees.

First please don’t “volcano” mulch around the trunk of trees. This leads to many issues from stem girdling roots as well as water and nutrient deficiencies, trunk rot.

With stem girlding, the roots constrict around the trunk of the tree, cutting off vascular flow.

Ensure that the flare root of your trees are at or slightly above ground depending on soil type. (When planting in clay type soils trees should always be planted above grade 5cm +\-)

Mulching trees- mulch should not be against the trunk of a tree and thicker along the dip line of newly planted trees, like a bowl to a thickness of 10cm +\-

Avoid black mulch around trees. Most beneficial organisms and bacteria are found in the top 20cm of soil. Black mulch has been shown to heat the top 5-10cm of soil enough to kill these vital orangisms/bacteria that your trees require to survive.

Water, water, water. Newly planted trees need lots of water to get established. Larger trees, 50-60mm calliper can require 25-40 litres of water as an initial watering. In types with lack of precipitation they should be watered regularly.

Hope this helps and feel free to contact me about tree planting.