Planting trees is a rewarding endeavor, whether you are establishing a picturesque row of shade trees or a bountiful fruit orchard. However, successful tree planting and ensuring their healthy growth requires more than just digging a hole. Having the right Tools Needed To Care For Trees from the very beginning will not only simplify the planting process but also set your trees up for a long and flourishing life. Equipping yourself with the proper equipment ensures efficiency and promotes the healthy establishment of your new trees.
Whether you’re undertaking your planting project in the spring or taking advantage of the milder autumn weather, this guide to essential tree care tools will walk you through the necessary equipment to ensure you don’t miss any crucial steps in giving your trees the best possible start.
1. Wagon or Utility Cart
Trees, especially larger specimens in containers, are surprisingly heavy. Transporting them from their delivery point to the planting site can be strenuous and potentially damaging to both you and the tree. A wagon or utility cart, whether a hand-pulled model or a larger tractor-pulled trailer, becomes indispensable. It allows you to move trees effortlessly to their designated planting holes, preventing back strain and minimizing stress on the tree’s root system.
Tractor-pulled trailers offer the added benefit of hauling other essential tree-planting tools and materials simultaneously, making the entire operation more efficient.
2. GPS Receiver and Measuring Tape
Strategic placement is crucial for the long-term health and aesthetics of your trees, especially when planting multiple trees in an orchard or landscape design. A GPS receiver, combined with a measuring tape and graph paper, offers a precise method for planning the location of each tree. This combination allows you to accurately map out your planting area, ensuring optimal spacing and sunlight exposure as your trees mature. Visualizing your orchard or landscape plan with precision from the outset helps avoid overcrowding and resource competition in the future, contributing to better tree care in the long run.
3. Shovel and Spade
Digging holes is a fundamental part of tree planting, and the right tools make this task significantly easier. A shovel and a spade are essential partners in this process. The shovel, with its broad, scoop-shaped blade, is ideal for moving loose soil efficiently. The spade, characterized by its flat, sharp-edged blade, excels at cutting through sod and breaking up compacted soil. Together, they enable you to dig the wide and deep holes necessary to accommodate the tree’s root ball, ensuring proper root establishment and early tree care.
4. Digging Bar or Rock Bar
Encountering rocks while digging tree planting holes is a common challenge, particularly in certain soil types. When you’ve selected the perfect spot for your tree, obstacles like large rocks can seem daunting. A digging bar, also known as a rock bar, is a heavy-duty tool designed to leverage and dislodge buried stones. Its weight and pointed end allow you to pry out even substantial boulders, ensuring you can prepare the planting hole as needed without compromising your chosen location and facilitating proper tree care from the start.
5. Buckets or Containers
Managing excavated soil efficiently is key to a clean and organized tree planting process. Instead of piling loose soil directly onto the surrounding sod, which makes cleanup difficult, use buckets or containers. Shoveling soil into buckets keeps the work area tidier and simplifies backfilling the hole later. Having separate buckets, one for soil and another for any rocks encountered, further streamlines the process and aids in efficient soil management, a small but important detail in tree care during planting.
6. Tape Measure
Accurate planting depth is critical for tree health. Instead of estimating the depth of your planting holes, use a tape measure to ensure precision. Measure the height and width of the tree’s root ball to determine the ideal hole dimensions. Dig the hole slightly deeper than the root ball’s height and then backfill the bottom with loose soil until the tree sits at the correct level. This technique provides a bed of soft soil beneath the root ball, encouraging root penetration and contributing to healthy root development, a cornerstone of early tree care.
7. Utility Knife or Pruning Shears
Removing trees from their containers, especially larger ones, can sometimes be tricky. While reusing plastic pots is environmentally conscious, the easiest way to free the tree is often to carefully slice down the sides of the pot with a utility knife. Additionally, a utility knife or pruning shears are valuable for addressing root issues. If you encounter circling roots on the outside of the root ball, gently score or prune them to encourage outward root growth into the surrounding soil. This root pruning is a beneficial step in promoting healthy root establishment and overall tree vigor from the outset.
8. T-posts or Tree Stakes
Young trees, especially spindly or top-heavy varieties, can be vulnerable to wind damage and may benefit from support during their initial establishment. Staking trees with T-posts provides crucial support against strong winds, helping them grow straight and preventing root disturbance as they establish themselves. Furthermore, T-posts can be strategically placed around the tree to support protective measures like fencing against deer or other animals, offering comprehensive care and protection for young trees.
9. Fence Post Driver
Installing T-posts effectively requires the right tool. A fence post driver, whether manual or gas-powered, is designed to drive T-posts securely into the ground with minimal effort. This tool ensures that the stakes are firmly anchored, providing reliable support for the newly planted trees and making the staking process efficient and less physically demanding, a practical consideration in initial tree care.
10. Water Jugs, Tanks, or Hose
Consistent watering is paramount for newly planted trees. Providing ample water immediately after planting and regularly during the first few months is crucial for their survival and establishment. Have a water source readily available, whether it’s a garden hose for easily accessible locations or water jugs or tanks for more remote planting sites. A consistent watering regimen is arguably the most important aspect of early tree care, ensuring the roots are adequately hydrated and the tree can thrive in its new location. Utilizing tools like 35-gallon leg tanks for larger plantings can greatly simplify this essential task.
By equipping yourself with these essential tools, you’ll be well-prepared to plant trees effectively and provide them with the necessary care from day one. Remember, proper planting is the foundational step in ensuring the long-term health and beauty of your trees, transforming your landscape and providing enjoyment for years to come.
