Page 18 2026 Spring Home and Garden LINCOLN DAILY NEWS April 2026 Before you plant the tree, make sure it has enough space to grow. For instance, you would not want a large tree near a power line. Illinois Department of Natural Resources says, “the most common mistake made is to not allow adequate space and the tree then grows into the house, buildings, utility lines, or obstructs the view of oncoming traffic.” Planting a tree Once you have chosen a good location to plant a tree, dig a hole that is wide but shallow. The hole should be two or three times the size of the root ball, but no deeper than the root ball. The root flare, which is where the base of the trunk gets wider, should be at the same level or just slightly above the surrounding soil. Sternberg says, “Be sure it is placed in the ground no deeper than it grew, or even slightly shallower to allow for settling. The roots can suffocate if planted too deeply, or the deep planting can redirect the new roots in the wrong direction upward to try to survive.” The tree should then be removed from any packing materials like burlap, plastic containers or baskets. The roots should also be loosened, and any circling roots should be straightened or trimmed. After the tree is in place, the hole should be filled with the original soil. Sternberg says this is the soil that was pulverized as it was dug from the planting hole and packed just tightly enough to avoid air pockets, but not so tight as to compress it beyond the ability of the new roots to grow into it. The soil then needs to be immediately watered. Around the tree’s base, you should put two or three inches of mulch in a circular shape but make sure it is a couple of inches from the trunk. Sternberg says the mulch should be a natural, not poison-sprayed, granular organic substance such as small wood chips or small bark chips, not grass clippings or pulverized material that might not allow aeriation or rain penetration. As you put the mulch in, Sternberg says, “Do not use gravel or rubber or plastic matting, or anything that has been treated with herbicide. It should have cured long enough for it to have aged and cooled (perhaps one season of aging). Stir the aging pile occasionally to mix the particles for aeration and disrupt or pull any young weeds. You might find it easier to buy bagged mulch as long as it fits these requirements.” Caring for your tree as it grows When the tree has been planted, the DNR says you should “inspect your newly planted tree frequently for the first two years. Water your tree every 7-10 days depending on the current rainfall. Make sure to saturate the ground when watering the trees and then let it dry out.” It is important to give the tree just the right amount of water. The Arbor Foundation says, “Not enough water is harmful for the tree, but
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MzExODA=