HOW TO PLANT A TREE

✚ Dig a hole two to three times as wide as the nursery pot the tree comes in.

✚ Loosen the roots so they’re not in a tight mass.

✚ The hole doesn’t have to be deeper than the pot, but if you hit rock or heavy clay, mound up the soil. Otherwise, ensure the top of the rootball is level with the top of the soil and not buried.

✚ Don’t put manure or other organic matter in the bottom of the hole. You can mix some with the site soil before backfilling.

✚ Add three stakes around the tree. Tie them loosely to the trunk so it can still sway in the breeze.

✚ Water thoroughly to settle the soil, then water daily for the first six weeks or so.

✚ Add mulch around the base, keeping it clear of the trunk.