Plant a Tree for Tennessee Tree Care Guide

​🌱 Grow With Us: Tree Planting & Care Guide

🎥 Start Here: Watch the Planting Tutorial
Before you dig, watch our step-by-step planting video featuring Green Interchange CEO John McFadden.

This quick walkthrough covers:

• Bare-root seedlings
• Container trees
• Proper planting techniques

👉 [Watch the video]

📍 Step 1: Choose the Right Location

• 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

Bare-root trees:

• Dig just deep enough for the roots
• Build a small soil cone in the center

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

📧 Questions? Contact: [email protected]