Why Spring is NOT a Great Time to Plant Trees in Kansas
And More Tree Care Tips from the Certified Arborists at Arb Tech
If you’re like us, you’ve been looking forward to warmer temperatures and sunshine after enduring the last several months of winter.
Now that daydreaming about how beautiful your landscaping will be is about to become a thing of the past, you’re probably planning out all the ways you’ll improve it over last year.
Adding a tree or a few ornamentals to your landscape may be high on your priority list. But hold on! Should you really be planting trees in spring? Our certified arborists answer your most pressing questions.
Is Spring the Best Time to Plant Trees in Kansas?
Kansas Citians may be surprised to know that spring is actually not at all the best time to plant a new tree.
The metro area is in zone 5 or 6, depending on whether you look at the USDA’s Plant Hardiness Zone Map, or the one produced by the Arbor Day Foundation. The climate here is simply not cold enough to plant a new tree in early spring.
So When Should I Plant a Tree?
The best time to plant a new tree in growing zones 6 through 8 is actually fall - October, November, and early December.
This timing triggers plant roots to become active and store nutrients. Your new tree also will need less water during the winter months.
Planting a tree in the spring here in Kansas City doesn’t give your new growing friend enough time to settle in before the weather gets hot and the soil dries out. This can cause undue stress and affect your little tree’s health and ability to thrive.
How Do I Plant a Tree?
Planting a tree isn’t terribly complicated, but if you do it the wrong way, your tree won’t survive. It’s best to get help from a tree arborist near you if you want it done correctly without stressing about it.
Before you dig, contact your utility companies and ask them to mark where your pipes and electrical lines are in your yard. After they’ve marked your yard, and you have identified the perfect place for your tree, it’s time to get started.
Dig a whole two to three times as wide as the root ball of your new tree, digging down to the depth of the root ball, so when it’s resting on the bottom of the hole, the tree is as level with the ground as it was in its original container.
If your root ball is burlapped, cut the twin and remove the burlap.
Put the soil you dug out of the hole back into it, around the root ball. Make sure it’s even and lightly packed down. As you backfill the hole, check that the tree trunk is still straight. Use leftover soil to create a berm to use as a watering well. This will look like a raised ring of soil along the ground around the tree trunk.
Install stakes to keep your tree perfectly upright. Drive stakes into the ground underneath and through the root ball. Loosely tie the stake to the tree trunk, but don’t make it too tight. You can remove these after six months, when the tree’s roots are strong enough to hold it in place.
Water your tree right after planting, and keep the soil around it moist for several weeks. Consider adding a layer of mulch around the base of the tree to keep weeds out and improve water absorption.
Where Should I Plant a New Tree?
Properly planting a tree is just as important as selecting the best place for your tree. Where you plant depends on the tree’s mature size.
Small Trees - those standing 30 feet or fewer at maturity
Plant smaller tree species at least 10 feet away from your home’s foundation and any utility lines.
Large Trees - those standing 30 to 70 feet at maturity
Large trees should be planted at least 15 feet away from your foundation and utility lines. Trees that reach 70 feet at maturity should be given at least 20 feet of distance.
When Should I Prune My New Tree?
If you’ve planted a sapling, you may be tempted to begin pruning it right away so that it grows perfectly from the start. Resist that urge!
Newly-planted trees have a lot to focus on as they acclimate to their new environment and establish a robust root system. They should only be pruned during their first growing season if they have broken, dead, or diseased limbs. Otherwise, leave them alone.
If you want to make sure your new tree’s damaged limbs are removed the right way, contact a certified arborist from Arb Tech, your Kansas City tree care experts.
Masters of Tree Care, at Your Service
If you’re in Clay, Platte, or Jackson counties in Missouri, or Wyandotte or Johnson counties in Kansas, write down this phone number: (913) 954-7004.
This is the only number you should call when you need help caring for the trees on your property. When you dial it, you’ll reach Arb Tech and our experienced certified arborists, who are ready to deliver the best tree care your growing friends have ever received.