A Guide to Planting Native Trees

This year, the Friends had the opportunity to table at Franklin County Natural Resources Conservation District (FCNRCD)'s first Conservation Fair, which took place at their annual Spring Tree Sale! We had a blast sharing a bit about our organization and learning from others across the state. Despite the rain and cool temps, plenty of people showed up to buy local seeds and trees!

Now that you have purchased your trees, you may be wondering, "what's next?". Here are the simple steps you should take to make sure your seeds or saplings thrive on your property. You can find more details about these steps using the Vermont Tree Selection Guide.

1. Determine your "Why"

Native trees can provide many different benefits to your property, and people plant trees for different reasons. Your reason for planting may impact what trees you decide to purchase and where you choose to place them. Many people plant trees because they can:

• Increase your property value

• Provide a peaceful environment

• Provide color, flowers, or fruit

• Reduce soil erosion

• Improve air and water quality

• Provide wildlife habitat

• Offer protection from the weather (shade in the summer and wind protection in the winter)

2. Analyze your Below-Ground Conditions

Trees rely on their roots for growth and the ability to thrive. This means that knowing your underground conditions are vital for choosing the right tree. If you would like more information regarding determining your soil conditions, take a look at our most recent webinar! Here are some variables you should take into account:

• Soil structure: The structure of the soil is determined by how much sand, silt, and clay is present. Soils with a lot of clay particles will be thicker and smoother and will allow for less drainage. On the other hand, soils with a lot of sand particles will be gritty, thin, and drain water quickly.

• Drainage: After a rainstorm, take a look at your planting site and see how it is holding water. If you have standing water for more than a day or so, you might want to consider choosing some water-tolerant species.

• Nutrients and pH: Most plants require 10-15 different nutrients and a pH of 5.5-7.0 to grow and thrive. Soils in Vermont tend to be acidic, so you might consider sending in a soil test to see if you have the right soil balance to plant!

• Road salt: Salt damage to soils is most severe within 25 feet of a road or walkway. To prevent your plants from burning, try to plant farther from areas that are salted and use salt-tolerant plants.

• Soil volume: Make sure you have a 1-2-foot layer of uncompacted soil on your -planting site. Any shallower (or denser) could limit root growth, which will make it hard for the tree to absorb water, nutrients, and oxygen.

3. Analyze your Above-Ground Conditions

Your tree will need just as much support above-ground as it does below to be able to thrive properly. Let's take a look at some more conditions that will help you choose your tree type and its location.

• Exposure: Living in Vermont, we sometimes have to deal with some pretty harsh winter temperatures, and so do our trees. A tree’s “hardiness,” or ability to survive winter conditions, is determined by the average minimum winter temperature it can tolerate. You can check the "Plant Hardiness Zone Map" on page 6 of the Vermont Tree Selection Guide to see what your hardiness zone is in your region.

• Overhead space: As your tree continues to grow, it will utilize the space above it. Problems arise when trees are planted too close to buildings, power lines, streetlights, or even other trees. If you have a lot of structures on your property, consider doing some research to see how large your tree may grow to be before planting.

• Legal concerns: You may need to do some research on the land surrounding your property to make sure you won't be violating any public-right-of-way laws or historical landmark statuses. You can do this by contacting your town planning office and requesting a map of local right-of-way boundaries. You should also check local ordinances to make sure all of your plantings are allowed!

4. Choose your Species

Based on your site conditions and reasons for planting trees, there will be specific species that work best for you and your property. It is important to take all environmental factors into consideration. You can use the worksheet at the bottom of the Vermont Tree Selection Guide to help you choose which species would be best for you.

5. Plant your Tree

Here are some basic steps to take when planting your tree:

1. Remove excess soil from the root clump of your tree

2. Determine how deep and wide to dig. The width of the hole should be about twice the width of the root clump. The hole should only be as deep as the root system.

3. If your tree came equipped with root packaging, remove this carefully and place the tree in your hole.

4. Backfill with soil that was removed from your plant site, breaking up large clumps.

5. Deeply water the plant site. Slow, steady infiltration is best!

6. Mulch the area with a 2–4-inch layer of woodchips. Pull the mulch away from the trunk so none is touching the bark.

6. Keep-up with Tree Maintenance

Any tree you plant will require maintenance for years to come, especially watering earlier on. Pruning the tree will allow for it to grow safely without fear of falling branches, improve the overall health of the tree, increase fruit production, and enhance the appearance of the landscape. Pruning must be done carefully and correctly, though, so it is important to do some research beforehand, or contact an arborist!

Once your trees are planted and maintained, you will be setup for generations of plant diversity, wildlife habitat, and environmental health on your property! If you have any questions, never hesitate to reach out at info@friendsofnorthernlakechamplain.org.