Plant within 72 hours or keep in a bucket of water until ready to plant. Look for multiple small, fibrous roots that are moist but not moldy. Buying Basics: Bare Root Illustration by Rodica Pratoįield-grown, dug up while dormant at about 1 year old, then shipped, small bare-root trees can be a money-saving option. And if the tree's root collar is buried, don't buy it. To inspect one, gently slip the tree from the pot a thick, solid mass of circling roots is a bad sign. Buying Basics: Potted Illustration by Rodica Pratoįor convenience, most folks buy three- to five-year-old trees sold in 15-gallon pots at nurseries or home centers. Newly planted trees need supplemental watering and pruning for the first three years, then only as needed.Ībsent disease or damage, often 100-plus years. But one weighing 300 pounds? Call in a pro, as installation is usually included for trees with a trunk diameter of over 2 inches. It's easy to plant a 55-pound potted tree. Plant bare-root trees in early spring only. In general, trees are best planted in spring or early fall so that strong roots develop before extreme weather sets in. A field-grown tree with a 2-inch-diameter trunk can range from $200 to $1,000. Shade Tree Vitals Photo by Mike Rodriguez/iStockPhotoĪ year-old "whip" with no branches starts at $10 a 2-year-old pot-grown tree goes for $20 and up. At maturity, a well-shaped tree has a balanced canopy and a single strong leader. Permanent roots anchor a tree to the ground, while temporary feeder roots carry water and nutrients to limbs, branches, and leaves. Anatomy of a Shade Tree Illustration by Rodica Prato Shown: A large deciduous shade tree, such as this ash, which can reach a height of 120 feet, provides a focal point in the landscape. Read on for our guide to selecting, planting, and caring for a shade tree that will grow straight and tall-and enrich the landscape for generations to come. The key to success? Putting the right type of tree in the right spot, where it can spread out unimpeded. We've narrowed the choices down to six species, all beloved for their looks, longevity, and low maintenance. Plus, when it comes to curb appeal, a mature shade tree can boost property values by as much as 20 percent. Properly placed, they can keep a home cooler in summer and warmer in winter, taking as much as 25 percent off utility bills. Their deeper roots reduce the likelihood of buckling pavement, and their strong branches are less prone than spindlier specimens' to break under stress from wind or snow. There are practical reasons to put in one of these trees, too. Such a tree is an investment in the future: It may go in as a twig, but as you watch it grow, its canopy spreading and its trunk thickening as it rises toward a full height of 50 feet or more, it will start to feel like a member of the family. We're talking about oaks, elms, maples, beeches-trees that can live for a century and whose names conjure small-town streetscapes and backyard picnics. Owning a house means putting down roots, and nothing underscores that notion like planting a large tree whose leafy embrace will shade your home and yard. Shady Welcome Photo by Andrea Rugg/Beateworks/Corbis
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