What to know about planting trees

SALT LAKE CITY – It’s time to start planting trees! On last week’s KSL Greenhouse show, Taun and Maria discussed everything you need to know about buying and planting trees.

“Right now the best selection of trees you’re going to find in garden centers is during April and early May,” Taun said.

Some people start coming in mid- to late-March, but there’s usually more varieties and species of trees in the garden centers now.

“The most important thing with planting a tree is the hole. We have a tendency to bury them too deeply and then overwater them,” Taun said.

The number one way that people accidentally kill new trees is by overwatering them. Despite living in a very dry climate, trees can still drown if you overwater them.

How deep is too deep?

Measure the deepness of the tree by looking at the trunk. You’ll see a bit of a knot at the base of the trunk where it’s been grafted. That knot needs to be at or slightly above the soil level.

Another way you can tell is by looking for a root flare. This is when the trunk starts to flare out into the roots. One recommendation is planting a tree that’s just a bit shallow and just a bit deep.

“How deep you plant the tree is going to be critical to its survival,” Taun said.

How much water is too much?

It’s true that a lot of people overwater their trees. The amount of water you should give new trees depends on the type of soil you plant them in.

“If you have a loam or a clay soil, it’s going to need to be watered a couple times a week through the summer. In sandy soil, you will want to water four times a week for the first few years until it really starts to send those roots out,” Taun said.

Listen to the full segment on our podcast below!

The KSL Greenhouse is on every Saturday from 8 a.m.-11 a.m. You can follow the show on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, and on our website.