Give your tree space away from buildings and structures
Consider sunlight throughout the day
Check for overhead and underground utilities
Think about where leaves, fruit, or sap may fall
Call 811 before you dig to locate underground utilities.
Step 2: Dig the Right Hole The key to success is the root flare—where the trunk widens at the base.
Keep the root flare above ground
Never bury the trunk
For bare-root trees:
Dig just deep enough for the roots
Build a small soil cone in the center
For container/root-ball trees:
Hole should be 2x as wide as the root ball
No deeper than the root ball
Loosen the sides of the hole
Step 3: Prepare & Plant Bare-root seedlings:
Keep roots moist until planting
Spread roots over the soil cone
Container or burlapped trees:
Remove all containers, burlap, rope, and tags
Loosen circling roots
Make small vertical cuts if roots are tightly packed
Step 4: Backfill & Settle
Use the same soil you removed
Remove rocks and debris
Fill halfway, water thoroughly
Finish filling and water again
Gently firm soil to remove air pockets
Step 5: Mulch for Protection Mulch helps your tree retain moisture and stay healthy.
Apply 3–4 inches of mulch
Use wood chips, bark, or pine mulch
Shape like a donut, not a volcano
Keep mulch away from the trunk
Step 6: Water Consistently Water is critical during the first year.
Water every 7 days during dry periods
Check soil more often in summer
Increase watering during heat waves
Simple method: Use a 3–5 gallon bucket with a small hole for slow, deep watering overnight.
Step 7: Minimal Pruning During the first growing season:
Only remove dead or damaged branches
Keep healthy buds intact to support growth
Step 8: Staking (If Needed)
Most trees do not need staking
If used, allow slight movement
Remove after one growing season
Seeing Mold? Don’t Worry Some seedlings may arrive with minor mold.
Plant as normal
Place in sunlight
Most recover naturally
Other Planting FAQs
What are the best planting locations for new trees? There are a few factors to keep in mind, including proximity to your home or other structures, the amount and direction of the sun, the location of overhead and underground utility lines (use the “Call Before You Dig” 811 hotline), and where any fruit or cones will drop—for instance, you may not want fruit or sap on your driveway. Remember that tree branches and roots will continue to grow over time!
How often does a newly planted tree need to be watered? Trees must be watered every seven days during dry periods, warm temperatures, or when planted April-October.
What are the best practices for mulching? The area around the tree should be mulched with wood chips, bark chips, or pine mulch. (Do not use sawdust, black plastic, or grass clippings as mulch.) The mulch should be 3 to 4 inches thick and cover the entire planting area. Please place it in a donut or tire shape around the tree's base. It should look like a large ring around the tree that slopes down to the tree at the center. It should not be placed like a mountain or volcano with a tree coming out of the center. The mulch must be kept away from the tree trunk to keep insects away and prevent the trunk from being excessively wet.
When is the best time to plant new trees? The best time to install new trees and plants is in the spring before it gets too hot or in the fall before the ground freezes.
What types of trees do you recommend planting in Nashville? Due to warmer temperatures in our area, we recommend several drought-tolerant trees for Nashville yards, including:
Large Species
Red Maple
Eastern Red Cedar
Sweetgum
Shumard Oak
Pin Oak
Bur Oak
American Beech
Honeylocust
Common Hackberry
Understory Species
Serviceberry
Eastern Redbud
Staghorn Sumac
Basic Tree Care FAQs
What is the proper way to prune a tree? Prune only the dead, broken, or severely deformed branches during the first growing season. Buds produce hormones that stimulate root growth, so keep the removal of buds to a minimum.
How do you know if a tree needs a stake? Staking is unnecessary if the tree has a proper-sized root ball and has not been pruned too high. Stakes or plastic, non-adhesive marking ribbon may help prevent lawnmowers and string trimmers from damaging the tree. If staking is needed for support, attach it so the tree has some sway. NEVER leave wires or straps on the tree for more than one growing season.
Do newly planted trees need fertilizer? Generally, new trees do not need fertilizers. However, using the wrong product could damage the already reduced root system. Therefore, only fertilize the first year if a specific problem develops.
What are the most common ways newly planted trees die? According to Root Nashville, the most common reasons young trees die are insufficient water, damage from lawn care equipment, and deer.
Why are trees important? In addition to providing beauty, shade, and wildlife habitat, trees increase real estate values, filter air pollution, moderate stormwater flow, reduce flooding, increase home energy efficiency, reduce noise, and reduce light pollution in our communities.
What does Green Interchange do? Green Interchange is a Nashville-based non-profit whose mission is to plant trees and other native plants to create connected green spaces in communities throughout the Southeast U.S. Our planting projects aim to simultaneously create beauty and resilience to the effects of climate change. Native trees and plants can protect our communities by reducing the occurrence of flooding, protecting against hot temperatures, increasing wildlife habitat, and reducing air pollution.
How can I contribute to the work Green Interchange is doing? There are many ways to get involved with the work that we’re doing.
Volunteer - We always need extra sets of hands to help us remove invasive species, plant trees, and help with young environmental stewards. If you’re interested in volunteering,complete this form and we’ll contact you when opportunities arise.
Donate - Our work is funded entirely by donations and grants. If you’d like to help us continue our work but don’t want to get your hands dirty,use this form to give.
Contribute through your company’s employee match program. Contact your company’s Human Resources Department for more information about your company’s employee matching program.
How can my company donate to Green Interchange? We work with area businesses in a few different ways.
We can accommodate groups of volunteers from organizations who want to donate their time to community projects. For more information, email [email protected]
Green Interchange can help create a native landscape at any company’s location. Email us, and we’ll schedule a time to assess your site. We can get employees involved in planting projects on-site!
A tree I purchased from Green Interchange died. Will you replace it? Our tree sales are one of our most significant fundraising activities. Because we rely on fundraising to continue our work, we are unable to replace dead trees. Replacement trees can be purchased for a small fee during our fall tree sale if necessary.
We're here for you if you have any other questions about your trees. You can email us your questions at [email protected] or message us on our socials.
