Planting & Caring for Mid-Atlantic Trees

Growing Earth Tree Care

PLANTING AND

CARING FOR

TREES IN THE

MID-ATLANTIC

STATES

Planting and Caring for Trees in the Mid-Atlantic States

If you live in the Mid-Atlantic region and are considering

adding a tree or two to your yard, it’s vital that you go about the process the right way. Smart choices in terms of

location, tree species and care will give you a thriving, beautiful addition to your landscape. If you already have

existing trees, you need to care for and maintain them properly.


Well before you head out to purchase a tree, you need to

have a game plan. You need to know what kind of tree you

want, where it will be located in your yard, and the

answers to a number of other questions. You’ll need to

know:

What’s the purpose of the tree? Do you want a

privacy screen? A windscreen? Shade for the

house on hot summer days? A fruit tree that

provides food for your family?

What species do you want? Some species are well-

suited to life in the Mid-Atlantic region, but not all

trees will thrive here. You’ll also need to consider

the size of the mature tree.

How much available space do you have for the

tree? What about in 50 years when it’s much

larger?

How hardy is the species? Can it withstand the

winter weather? What about summer storms, or

drought conditions?


While there are thousands, perhaps tens of thousands of

tree species in the world, only some are suitable for the

Mid-Atlantic. Some of these include:

Dogwood

Maple

Birch

Hawthorne

Holly

Walnut


Now you’ve chosen your trees, and it’s time to plant them.

Dig a hole: The hole should be at least as deep as

the root ball (the clump of roots and soil that

come out of the container) and about three times

as wide.

Massage the roots: Loosen them so that they

radiate out from the root ball. Cut any circling

roots, and make sure to take off any ties or

stakes. Place the tree in the middle of the

pedestal. Make sure that the depth and

positioning are good, and that the root flare lies

above the surface – you’re only going to get one

chance to get this right. Repeated digging up and

re-planting will traumatize the tree.

Plant the tree: Fill in the soil around the root

ball, and then tamp it down with your foot or a

shovel so that there are no air pockets.

Add top mulch: Use shredded bark, wood chips

or leaves, keeping it a few inches from the trunk

and the root flare – this keeps fungi and insects

from burrowing and chewing on the bark.


Water: Make sure that you continue to water

(assuming that you don’t get a drenching rain) at

least once a week, or every 4-5 days until the tree

is well established.


It’s a responsibility, caring for a tree. But it basically

amounts to a few basic things – fertilize, water, mulch, and

prune if necessary. Also, watch out for disease and other

adverse conditions.

Fertilization: If your soil isn’t sufficiently rich,

you may need to fertilize your tree to provide the

nutrients it lacks. A soil test can help you

determine if this will be necessary. If it is, make

sure that you don’t use “high number” fertilizers.

These contain too much nitrogen, and can cause

more problems than you’d have if you didn’t

fertilize at all. Most trees do just fine with 6-6-4

fertilizer.


Watering: It’s vital that newly planted trees get

enough water. The first three years are the most

important, but if you’re having unusually dry

weather, even a more mature tree should be

watered.

Mulching: Mulching newly planted trees helps to

hold moisture in the roots, and reduces

competition from grass. Use organic materials like

wood chips, needles, bark or leaves. Don’t let the

mulch touch the tree – it encourages insects and

fungi to come in close and eat the bark. Often,

with proper mulching, you won’t need fertilizer.

About three inches of mulch over the roots,

spread as wide as possible, is best. In the spring,

you may need to add more mulch in order to

maintain a proper level.

Pruning: Newly planted trees don’t need much

pruning, so remove only the branches that are

broken or dead. If the tree is producing a lot of

leaders, you might want to remove them in order

to allow the central stem to strengthen and

develop. In the second and third year, prune

lightly, and beyond that, prune every three years

to encourage new growth and good form.


Your trees, both new and existing, can suffer from any

number of problems, including storm damage, disease,

pests and more. Watch for the following signs and head off

issues before they become true nightmares:

Rotting branches or roots

Sawdust mounding around the trunk

Cracked trunks

Hanging and broken branches

Bark damage

Gaps between trunk and soil


You also need to ensure

that you can protect your

home, yard, automobiles

and families from trees

during storms. Trees that

are located on the lots of

newly constructed homes,

those in loose soil, and those on newly cleared lots are all

more likely to be blown over. Storm damage can be

exacerbated by trees with foliage that creates a “sail”, as

well as poorly maintained trees.

Tree care requires patience and a watchful eye, as well as a

little bit of knowledge. With the right steps, you can protect

your trees, your yard and your home, while enjoying the

many benefits that trees bring to our lives. It all begins

with taking a proactive stance to choosing the right tree,

and then maintaining it over the years.



Founded in 1976, Growing Earth Tree Care is a full-service

tree care company, providing disease & pest diagnosis &

control, fertilization, tree preservation, pruning, cabling &

bracing, plant growth regulators, take downs & stump

grinding. Clients include HOA’s, property managers,

commercial properties, & individual property owners.

Growing Earth has won numerous awards for tree

preservation and conservation and is one of the few local

companies that have been Accredited by the Tree Care

Industry Association.

Contact Us


www.growingearth.com

http://www.growingearth.com/

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Planting & Caring for Mid-Atlantic Trees