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Planting Help

Planting Suggestions & Maintenance

Follow these steps to get your new trees established, protected and producing.

Step 1

Once Your Trees Arrive

  • Wet the roots immediately.
  • Plant the trees as soon as possible.
  • If you cannot plant immediately, keep the trees moist and cool until you can plant.
  • Cover roots with mulch or sand if time before planting exceeds a week or more.
Do not let the plants freeze

Freezing can kill bareroot trees before they're ever planted. Keep them protected from frost until they're in the ground.

Step 2

How to Plant

Dig & set depth

Dig a hole larger than the root system and place the seedling or tree at the same depth it was growing at the nursery.

Fertilize at planting

Put a slow-release fertilizer packet at the bottom of the hole, then cover it with 1 inch of soil before planting (two packets for older trees).

Full sun

Mast-producing trees and shrubs like the sun. Try to plant in full sun.

Water weekly

If rain is inadequate, water trees at least once a week.

Osmocote Classic 18-6-12 fertilizer bag

After the first year

Fertilize in early spring with Osmocote® Classic 18-6-12.

Shop Osmocote
Step 3

Spacing

30 ft

Nut & acorn trees

Space about 30 feet apart.

20 ft

Fruit trees

Space about 20 feet apart.

6–7 ft

Shrubs

Space about 6–7 feet apart.

Step 4

Ongoing Care

Mulch

  • Mulch around the tree about 4” deep for weed and moisture control.
  • Additional weed control will be needed in wet years.
  • Mulching is extremely important to retain moisture around the tree in dry years.

Deer Protection

  • Deer can cause severe damage, especially to fruit trees.
  • Plantra tree tubes and bark protectors are recommended for all seedlings and older, larger trees.
  • For bushier types of trees and shrubs, we recommend some type of cage or fence to protect from deer.
Shop tree tubes & bark protectors →

Pruning

  • All fruit trees benefit from having sunlight penetrate deep into the tree.
  • Thinning the interior wood helps promote this.
  • Cut out crossed and broken limbs in general.
  • Remove about 1/3 of the limb’s length at time of planting for fruit trees.
Questions about planting? We're glad to help.
Call 803-345-0061

Important Shipping Information

Shipping rates are calculated after you make a purchase. Please call 803-345-0061 for more information. 

We are also unable to ship to California due to CA regulations.