Tree Planting
The first step to a healthy tree is planting. Choose the right tree, choose the right location, and plant at the right depth. Unfortunately, many new plantings miss on all three of these point. Make sure you have an arborist assist you while planting, or check out our planting related articles:
- DIY planting guide (Coming Soon!).
- Best trees to plant in Utah (Coming Soon!)
Choosing the right tree
1) Soil compatibility. Many popular trees in Utah's valley don't do that well due to the high soil pH in our area. For example, autumn blaze maples have wonderfully vibrant fall colors, but many specimens in Utah realize their potential here. Instead they develop iron deficiencies and turn yellow. Before planting, we recommend getting a soil analysis done to better understand what tree will fit your land.
2) Size. One of the most common reasons we prune trees is for building clearance. Much of this work could be avoided if trees were planted further away from structures. New housing developments tend to plant for what looks good now, but you want to plant for what looks good in 20 years, 50 years, 100 years.
3) Pest Resistance. Not all trees have equal susceptibility to pests and diseases. Flowering pear trees are popular for their spring flowers, but they are susceptible to fire blight, a very difficult to manage bacterial infection.
4) Structural integrity. Some trees are more susceptible to structural defects like included bark, which leads to failed branches. Flowering pear also does not do well in this category.
5) Appearance. Of course, aesthetics are a big reason to plant a tree. Think about the surrounding colors and have your tree complement them. If your house is white, then apricot, dogwood, flowering pear, etc. won't show up as well as a red japanese maple or a tri-color beech. The opposite may be true for a brick house.
6) Growth Rate. Fast growing usually goes hand-in-hand with fast falling. Cottonwoods, poplars, and willows grow large quickly, but tend to become a liability. Unless you have a large area with no obstacles, we recommend trees like Bur Oak that have slow growth rates.
7) Maintenance. All trees require some maintenance. Some are messier than others, some require more pruning than others, some require more fertilization/watering/ than others. Fruit trees are generally very high maintenacne.
8) Clonal Colonies. Aspens are famous (infamous?) for producing new trees from their extensive root systems, but they are not the only ones. Gamble oaks and chokecherries readily produce new trees from their roots. Gamble oaks and chokecherries are two of my favorite trees in Utah, but their growth strategy is something to be aware of.
Choosing the right location
Some insurance companies will not insure your home if there are trees within 4 feet of the building. I think this is a little much, but planting too close to a structure is a very common problem with tree planting.
1) What is the mature size of the tree? Trees at a nursery should have a label that indicates how tall and how wide a tree will reach at a near-mature age. Make sure you give your tree enough room to grow, without it stepping on your toes or into your power lines!
2) Shade and Wind. A tree that is planted for shade should be planted closer to a structure to help save on the power bill (12% reduction in energy bills in just 15 years after planting). Wind barriers should be planted further away from a house, on the side where strong winds orrigonate. Check out more tips & techniques from the Arbor Day Foundation.
Contact Us
We love to help homeowners select a tree. Fill out our contact form to request a quote.