Thuja Gardens Planting Tips
Be sure and position your tree in the center of the hole so the best side is facing in the direction you want.
Don't Amend the Soil
Contrary to traditional planting methods, contemporary research indicates that you should not amend the hole with additional organic material. Roots growing in amended soil rarely venture into harder native soil. The long-term affect is a smaller root system, reduced growth and a less hardy plant. Instead, simply break up the clumps in existing soil, remove the rocks and backfill. Studies show plant roots growing in only the native soil actually did a better job at establishing and expanding beyond the original hole.
Prepare the proper planting hole
When preparing any hole for planting, make it two times wider than the current root mass but never deeper than the plant was growing in its previous environment. An even better guide with trees is to look for the flare of the trunk near the soil level. Don’t place the tree in the planting hole so deep that any part of that flare is covered with soil. The truth is, even nurseries sometimes put plants in containers too deeply. There have been many times where I’ve actually had to pull away soil to find the base of the trunk flare and true surface roots. Make a habit of checking this.
Inspect the roots and disturb when necessary
Once the plant is out of its container, look at the roots. If they are densely bound in a circular pattern or have started growing in the shape of the container (even slightly), break up the pattern. It’s best to stop this pattern now. I often scratch my fingers across the sides and bottom of the root mass in mild cases. In more severe situations, I’ll slice up the roots vertically with a razor knife.
Add Mulch
Starting about two inches from the trunk (leave this area exposed), place roughly two inches of organic matter such as shredded leaves, or ground bark or nuggets around the plant, at least out to the drip line. Further is better. Mulch helps retain much-needed moisture and helps keep roots cooler near the surface—a very important requirement for newly installed plants.
Our Thuja Trees
