Planting Trees – From Shrubs to Green Giants

When people think about planting a tree, they might imagine dropping a seed into soil in a wide open space with plenty of room to grow. While this situation might be true for some trees and shrubs, the majority of plantings that happen in Long Island's suburbia are transplants from farms, nurseries or orchards. Even if you don't have the acreage to accommodate a large shade tree, there are many smaller trees and shrubs that can be planted on your property. In fact, planting trees and shrubs is one of the best things you can do for your home and garden.

Trees and shrubs provide shade in the summer, which can help keep your home cooler and reduce your energy costs. They also add beauty to your landscape and can increase the value of your property. And, of course, trees and shrubs are an important part of our environment, providing oxygen and helping to control soil erosion.

When planting trees and shrubs, it's important to choose the right ones for your climate and soil type. You also need to take into account the size of the tree or shrub at maturity. Some plants, such as the beautiful, green arborvitae, are slow-growing and will only reach a height of six or seven feet. Wild varieties of similar arborvitae, such as the ones of the wild Northwestern forests, can grow to be seventy feet tall (we doubt you'll see ones this tall at the local garden center). The most common privacy tree heights range between 6 and 14 ft. when we're talking about residential or commercial spaces. If you're not sure which plants are best for your area, consult your local nursery or garden center. They can help you choose plants that will thrive in your area and explain how large a tree or shrub will get throughout its life.

When it comes to planting a new tree, unless you're putting a seed directly into the soil with unbounded growth potential the process becomes gradually more complicated. Most trees that are planted on residential or commercial properties are transplants from a farm or nursery, as we've said. The entire process can be extremely stressful on the plant so it's important to consider the shrub or tree's needs well before the root ball hits the soil. The best time to plant trees and shrubs is in the spring or fall, when the weather is cooler and the soil is moist. Be sure to follow the planting guidelines carefully.. trees can be finicky when it comes to their needs at the early stages of growth. It's also important to keep your trees and shrubs healthy after you plant them. Spacing, depth, soil type and natural pests are important considerations when planning a landscape design or upgrade. Water freshly transplanted trees regularly, especially in warm/dry climate zones. Some shrubs and trees will need much more water than others. That being said, it's important to consider location and whether or not your landscape is equipped with the correct irrigation setup. Do you have a drip line installed along the same stretch of soil that you plan to plant your new privacy tree line? If not, do you have a sprinkler system that can accommodate the watering needs of the newly installed trees/shrubs? These are all items that should be considered, amongst many others.

All said and done, the process and product of a new planting is almost always a very rewarding one. Seeing a row of new trees or shrubs in your garden adds an instant feeling of depth, maturity and freshness to your property. If you're looking to do some landscaping in your yard, feel free to give us a call today. We're more than happy to help you choose the right plants for your property and give you tips on how to keep them healthy for years to come.

Clean Cut Cleanups
Phone: (631)626-4956
Email: cleancutcleanups@yahoo.com