Planting Instructions for Trees & Shrubs

  1. Situate the woody plant properly. Check the list on this page for its light and moisture requirements. Picture it at its full size as you choose its location.

  2. Dig a hole the depth of the container and three times its width.

  3. With a shovel or your hands, break up the soil you have removed from the hole.

  4. Remove grass and other vegetation at least 3’ in all directions. This will reduce competition from their roots.

  5. Hold the container and gently slide the woody plant out.

  6. If the roots are long and curved inside the pot, loosen the root ball to help the roots spread. This is very important. You can cut an X into the bottom of the root ball with a knife. Do not be afraid to cut some roots.

  7. Put the tree or shrub in the hole making sure the flare (part where the trunk gets wider at the base) is slightly above ground level.

  8. Fill halfway with the soil you took from the hole. Do not add fertilizer.

  9. Water heavily to settle the soil and eliminate air bubbles.

  10. Finish filling in the hole and water again.

  11. Mulch with bark or wood chips, but leave a small unmulched circle around the trunk so that fungus and pests do not afflict your woody plant.

  12. Water every day for the first 2 weeks, and weekly after that for the rest of the first growing season.

 
 

American Basswood -full sun to part shade, average to moist soil
American Plum - full sun to part shade, average to moist soil
Arrowwood Viburnum - full sun to part shade, average to moist soil
Black Cherry - full sun to part shade, dry to moist soil
Black Elderberry - full sun to part shade, average to moist soil
Chokeberry - part shade, average to moist soil
Highbush Cranberry Viburnum - part shade, average to moist soil
Persimmon - part shade, dry to average soil
Prairie Willow - full sun, dry to average soil
Pussy Willow - full sun to part shade, average to moist soil
Red Mulberry - part shade, average to moist soil
Red Stem Dogwood - full sun to part shade, average to moist soil
Sand Cherry - full sun, dry to average soil
Shadbush Serviceberry - full sun to part shade, average to moist soil
Silky Dogwood - full sun to part shade, average to moist soil
Virginia Rose - full sun, dry to moist soil
Witchhazel - part shade, average to moist soil