how to replant a small tree

How to Replant a Small Tree In Your Holliston, MA Yard

by with No Comment Tree Planting Guide

Learning how to replant a small tree can save you a fair amount of aggravation by making simple planting mistakes disappear. 

In this post, Brooke Tree Service, the leading tree specialists in Holliston, share the best practices for replanting young trees. With the following steps for successful small tree transplantation, you’ll become an old hand in no time.

how to replant a small tree

Step 1: Prepare the Soil at the New Site

Before moving and reestablishing small trees, you must prepare the new location. The day before you plan to transplant the sapling, dig a hole at the new site. It’s a good idea to dig a hole twice as deep and as wide as the root ball. 

Then, throw in compost so that the hole is only as deep as the root ball. We also recommend watering the tree deeply so that it’s easier to dig up the soil the next day. 

Ensure that the root bulge is above soil level at the new site.

Step 2: Remove the Root Ball

The next step for how to replant a small tree successfully is to measure the trunk’s diameter at its widest point and multiply it by 11. Mark out a circle all around the tree using this figure as the perimeter. Slice directly down into the ground as far as your spade will go until you complete the circle. 

Next, dig just outside this mark to create a wide trench, going down until the roots stop. You should then carefully lever the spade under the root ball to gently lift it onto a burlap sack. 

It’s easiest to slide the sack underneath so that it covers the root ball and use this to remove the tree without everything falling apart.

Don’t Forget To Protect the Roots

Of all the transplanting techniques for young trees, this is the most important: position the ball in the middle of the sack and lift the ends together gently. Then, tie loose knots to hold it together and encase the root ball without crushing it. 

Experts like Brooke Tree Service will usually wrap twine vertically around the sack, attaching it to the trunk. Parallel threads six inches apart (at most) provide support for the root ball. If the tree’s small enough, you can skip the twine and place it on a wheelbarrow. 

Step 3: Replant the Small Tree

The above step keeps the roots together during the move, which is crucial for the tree’s survival. A wheelbarrow is a good hack for safely moving and planting small trees. Still, replanting tips for small tree seedlings also advise moving trees as quickly as possible—the roots shouldn’t dry out. 

When you’re at the new planting site, do the following:

  • Carefully remove the burlap.
  • Position the tree in the center of the hole. 
  • Fill in the soil and compact it.
  • Water it deeply. 

Contact Our Tree Care Team for Help 

Now that you know how to replant a small tree, you might wonder what types of trees you should not plant near your house. Whatever you need to know, Brooke Tree Service can help. Call 508-613-5044 to schedule a consultation!

do trees need fertilizer

When Do Trees Need Fertilizer in Holliston, MA?

by with No Comment Tree Planting Guide
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Do trees need fertilizer if you live in Holliston, Massachusetts? When?

In this post, Brooke Tree Service’s tree specialists in Holliston talk about when to fertilize your trees to maximize plant nutrition. They also provide a few gardening tips if you’re looking to get your landscape maintenance in line.

do trees need fertilizer

Why Fertilize Your Trees?

You know that you need to prepare the soil before tree planting to give the roots a chance to grow. However, won’t the plant be self-sufficient once its root system establishes itself? In an ideal world, it would be, but the way we grow trees today is far from ideal. 

Outside of the forests they’re meant to live in, there’s little decaying plant matter to replenish soil nutrients for trees. That’s why your trees in Massachusetts and elsewhere need a regular fertilizer application to remain healthy and strong.

Still, the trick is to time it perfectly. 

Do Your Trees Need a Feed? 

Do trees need fertilizer all the time? No. Let’s look at tree fertilization guidelines to see why there’s no one-size-fits-all answer here.

Tree fertilization needs have many factors at play, such as: 

  • How much rain you’ve had
  • Soil type
  • Other plants around the tree

Adding too much fertilizer can burn the roots, so arborists like Brooke Tree Service will typically recommend testing the soil for deficiencies before adding any nutrients. Alternatively, you can dig in organic compost and allow the tree to draw nutrients from that.

Copious amounts of research on the nutrients your tree species needs also helps. Fruit trees, for example, usually need more nutrients at certain times of the year when they’re producing fruit, which is energy-intensive.

How and When to Fertilize Trees

When you know what nutrients your tree needs, you can apply the right fertilizer mix. Here are a few expert tips for how to apply the fertilizer:

  • Spread it out evenly over the surface, at least until the end of the dripline. 
  • Where possible, choose an organic product that’s free of pesticides. 
  • You don’t need to dig it in—wait for rain or water the ground well.

When should you fertilize your Holliston tree specimens? Most gardeners fertilize in the early spring before the growing season starts. However, the industry’s attitudes around this are shifting, with some experts now suggesting that it’s better to apply fertilizer in the late fall, after the first severe frost. 

This makes sense for deciduous trees in Holliston, as they’ll have dropped their leaves by then and can focus their energy on healing damage and resisting disease. The extra nutrients don’t go to waste as the tree stores them in its root system, as well. 

If you want to hedge your bets, test the soil in spring and fall or use an organic mulch to introduce nutrients slowly throughout the year.

Contact Our Tree Care Team for the Right Advice

Do trees need fertilizer? Yes, trees need fertilizer, and choosing the best soil for tree planting is crucial to ensure optimal growth and health for your trees in Holliston and elsewhere. Evaluating tree health should reveal whether you’ve got the timing right.

Why not get fertilization right the first time by scheduling services from Brooke Tree Service? Call 508-613-5044 today. 

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what trees should not be planted close to a house

What Trees Should Not Be Planted Close to a House?

by with No Comment Tree Planting Guide

Planting trees close to your house brings many benefits. They’ll make your home look more attractive and boost its overall value. Some trees are good at providing shade during hot weather and others act as windbreaks. 

However, certain tree species can prove dangerous near your house. Some will damage your foundation. The branches may also run against your walls or roof, causing damage. 

So, what trees should not be planted close to a house? Here are five tree species you should avoid, as advised by tree removal experts in Millis, MA:  

what trees should not be planted close to a house

Oak Trees

Oak trees are the most notorious when it comes to foundation damage. They’re responsible for over 10% of foundation damage resulting from tree roots. 

These trees have large shallow roots that grow laterally. The strong, fast-growing roots absorb copious amounts of water, which can lead to serious land subsidence. 

Silver Maple Trees

Ask any experienced arborist about what trees should be planted close to a house. They would hardly forget to mention silver maple trees. This fast-growing tree species is quite unforgiving to buildings. 

It can grow up to 70 feet tall and up to two feet wide. Silver maples are beautiful to have in your yard. Sadly, their roots can grow above ground if you give them adequate space. You certainly wouldn’t want such an unsightly look on your property. 

Ash Trees

When choosing trees to plant near your house, you should avoid ash trees. Their roots absorb a lot of moisture, which can cause severe subsidence. 

Some ash trees can reach up to 30 feet tall, with roots spreading as much as 30 feet wide. Such roots can find their way under your foundation and force it upward. The resulting structural heaving can cost you thousands of dollars to fix. 

American Elm Trees

Many homeowners have suffered costly sidewalk and driveway damage thanks to the American Elm’s shallow roots. You certainly don’t want to be the next victim. So, avoid planting these trees near your home, particularly if you have a small yard. 

Poplar Trees

Poplar trees are also not friendly to buildings. They have shallow root systems that develop quite rapidly. 

These roots can be so aggressive that they cause cracks in your foundations and sewer pipes. Fixing such damage will set you back thousands of dollars. 

Contact Your Local Tree Experts for Assistance

Need more information about what trees should not be planted close to a house? The experts at Brooke Tree Service can help. We’re your go-to local arborist for reliable tree services that won’t hurt your wallet. 

We offer a vast range of services in Millis, MA, and the surrounding areas, including:

  • Tree Trimming & Tree Pruning
  • Tree Removal
  • Tree Planting

Our skilled crew has the experience and tools necessary to handle all your tree care needs efficiently while prioritizing the safety of your property and loved ones. Give us a call at (508) 613-5044 to request your free estimate or learn more about when to hire tree service.