As the tree planting season is upon us, Recover Brands partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation and Asheville GreenWorks to sponsor a tree planting event to rebuild the Hominy Creek Greenway in Asheville, NC, after the impact it endured from Hurricane Helene.
With the support of the Recover team and partners, as well as community volunteers, we were excited to roll up our sustainable sleeves to continue to rebuild WNC as part of our mission of “Helping The Earth Recover”.
In the spirit of tree planting and Helping The Earth Recover, we wanted to share some sustainability tips on how to plant a tree in your own backyard!
Find a native tree that’s right for your area
When planting trees, it’s important to keep your area's native species and natural ecosystem in mind. Not only will the trees and plants better thrive in the conditions of your area, but they will also continue to support other critters in the natural landscape around you.
Our friends at Arbor Day have a great resource HERE that can help you find trees and other plant species native to your area. Consider purchasing your trees from a local nursery as well!
Dig your hole and rustle the roots
Once you’ve got your tree, now it’s time to dig a hole! Dig a hole that is about 3 times wider than the root mass of your tree and just deep enough so that the trunk flare is level with the ground.
Then, remove your tree from its pot and rustle the roots. If the roots take the shape of the pot, you may need to cut and break a few away so that the shape is disrupted. This is important, as planting a rootbound plant in the ground will hinder growth.
Place your tree and backfill
Now, place your tree in the ground, ensuring that the trunk flare is even with the ground and not below.
While the tree is held up straight in its hole, backfill with the native dirt while breaking up clumps and removing rocks. Lightly tamp or handpack the soil as you backfill- but make sure not to stomp or compact the soil.
Mulching and watering
After you have backfilled, add a ring of mulch or organic matter in a donut ring shape around the trunk of the tree, leaving about a few inches between he mulch and trunk. Mulch will help the new tree by retaining moisture in the soil.
Water daily for the first few weeks, making sure that the water reaches the root ball and the surrounding soil is moist.
Maintaining care and letting your tree grow
After the first few weeks, water newly planted trees once a week during their first year and re-mulch as needed to regulate soil temperature.
Our friends over at Arbor Day Foundation have wonderful resources to help you care for and maintain the health of your new tree throughout it’s life (HERE).
Enjoy watching your tree grow and contribute to a healthier planet- becoming part of your backyard’s ecosystem- providing shade, fresh air, food and shelter to native critters, and more!
