Caring for New Plants

A long-term investment is making a new shrub tree or shrub. These long-lasting plants can bring many benefits to your property. Your new additions will need some extra care in the first few years to ensure they last for many years. Continue reading to learn how you can care for shrubs and trees that have just been planted.

WATERING A NEWLY PLANTED TREE / SHRUB

After your shrub or tree is planted, you will need to give it water. You can give the ground a good rub around the root ball to settle it and remove any air pockets. Finally, saturate the entire area with water. This will ensure that the root system has plenty of water for the next few days. It will promote deep rooting and help in the recovery process after transplanting. This deep watering should be repeated approximately every 5-7 day, more often if it's hot and dry and less frequently if there has been a lot of rain or clay soil.

HOW MUCH WATER IS ENOUGH

For every inch of trunk diameter, you should use approximately 2 gallons. You can multiply the main stem diameters by 1.5 to get the water your shrub requires.

SHOULD YOU FERTILIZE A NEWLY PLANTED TREE/SHRUB?

We expect to be able to establish a routine for fertilizing indoor and outdoor plants quickly when we learn how to care for them. This is not true for shrubs and trees that have just been planted. These large plants don't need any fertilizers in the initial stages of their establishment. Your tree or shrub can survive on water alone for the first year as long as it has been enriched with organic matter. You can apply fertilizers in the second year.

PRUNING NEW TREES & SHRUBS

If you are not absolutely required, don't prune newly planted shrubs or trees during their first growing season. If necessary, trimming damaged or diseased branches or dead plant material is possible. Additional pruning during active growth and the establishment of the root system can put unnecessary stress on the plant. Additional stress can cause problems with normal growth, and make your shrub or tree more vulnerable to pest infestation and disease.

You can start light pruning in the late fall or early spring, when it is still dormant. This will encourage it to mature into a strong and healthy plant. Don't worry if you don't know how to prune your tree or are worried about damaging it. It's an important part of shrub and tree care, even for newly-planted trees. Cut off any limbs that are bending or crossing over. Use sharp, clean pruners and loppers. For specific pruning tips , we recommend that you speak to the nursery where your shrub or tree was purchased.

PROTECTING NEW TREES and SHRUBS

It takes a while for shrubs and trees that have been newly planted to mature. Part of caring for them is understanding how to protect them during their first year. These are important tips to help plants get through the first few years.

• Mulch: Apply a 2-inch mulch layer around the root ball after your first watering. The mulch should not touch the trunk or main stems. Mulch will keep soil from drying out and retain heat, which in turn will improve water uptake. Mulch protects soil from competing weed seeds.
• Place your bets. Staking may be beneficial if your tree is located in an exposed area. This will prevent wind damage and uprooting. Stakes are not necessary until the roots have had the chance to anchor in the tree.
• Physical Barriers and Repellants. Rodents and deer love the tender wood from newly planted trees or shrubs. Protect your plant by using a physical barrier such as a chicken wire or tree guard, or an animal repellant.
• Wrapping. It doesn't take long to remind you how cold the winters in Edmonton can be. It is possible to protect your young plants by wrapping them in burlap during the establishing of your new plant. This will protect the plant from extreme weather conditions and allow it to support heavy, wet snow.
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WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR A TREE/SHRUB TO BE 'ESTABLISHED'?

"Established" means that the root system is about the same size and shape as the canopy above it. This should help you see how huge the root systems of large, mature oaks or elms can be. Most young trees are established in a year or less.