Planting trees is one thing anyone can do to help and save future generations, who at that time might be deprived of clean air to breathe. Planting trees is one simple step to give back to nature. One might think that it is not enough, but the community work together on this it can be accomplished.
Planting a tree is not a hard thing to do, as long as you know the steps on effectively planting a tree to give it a higher rate of survival until full grown.
Parts of a tree
Trunk - It is the middle part of the tree which transports the nutrients from the root to the leaves and vice versa.
The root system - It plays an important role in a tree’s nutrient intake. Similar to its leaves with photosynthesis, its role is to transport the nutrients from the soil to the tree's own system to grow.
The root or trunk flare - Not all people know about this part of the tree which is also essential to tree growth. It is the lower part of the trunk, it is where the trunk expands at the base of the tree, normally it is where we sit on when we rest under a tree. This is an important part of a tree because if it is not developed appropriately, a tree can become unstable and fall over.
Common problems that we commonly encounter with planting trees is if the tree is planted too deep in the ground it is exposed to too much moist and subject to fungus, disease, and insects. This will drastically slow down the growth of the tree. Advisably, it has to be partially visible on the ground for the root to breathe and make the tree healthier
Steps on Planting a Tree
1. Identify the trunk flare
This
part should be partially visible after the tree has been planted.
Remove excess soil from the top of the root prior to planting if the
root flare is not visible.2. Dig a shallow hole it should be 2-3 times wider, and as deep as the root ball.
Digging a wider pit loosen up the soil and provides newly emerging roots room to expand. The majority of the roots develops from the top 12 inches of the soil. If the tree is planted too deep, new roots will have difficulty developing because of a lack of oxygen. In a compact or heavily clayed soil, trees can be planted with the base of the trunk flare 2 to 3 inches.When placing the tree in the hole, lift it by the root ball, not the trunk to avoid damaging the root flare.
3. Straighten the tree in the hole, put braces to support the tree
Newly planted trees with braces or support establish more quickly and develop stronger trunk and root systems. (Remove the support after a year.)Before back filling view the tree from different angles to see if it is straight because once planted it is difficult to reposition the tree.
4. Fill the hole gently, but firmly
Pack the soil around the base of the root ball to stabilize it, firmly packing the soil eliminates air pockets that may dry out the roots.5. Put mulch at the base of the tree
Mulch is a material around the base of a tree to hold moisture, moderate soil temperature, and reduce grass and weed competition. The mulch layer is preferably 1-2 inches wide, and 2-3 inches thick.Common mulches include shredded wood, bark chips, pine needles, aged compost, crushed stone, and even dried leaves can serve as mulch.
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