How to Best Care for Your New Tree

At Wheatland Trees, we are proud to grow the best trees for the Calgary climate. To ensure years of enjoyment, we have prepared the following guide on how to plant and care for your new tree.

Click image to enlarge.

Preparing the hole for the tree is the first step. Before any excavation, contact Alberta One-Call or your local underground facilities locating service provider to have the area marked. The hole for each tree should be approximately 20 cm (8 inches) larger than the tree ball. Place the tree level with the existing ground. If the land slopes then pick a mid point between the high and low sides. Back fill with a 50/50 mix of existing soil and good quality topsoil. If the soil contains large percentage of clay, add course sand to the mix. Back fill in 15 cm (6 inch) lifts till the tree hole is half full. Untie the basket and fold down the wire and burlap. Fill the rest of the tree hole making sure the tree is vertical. Make a saucer around the tree roughly in line with the drip line of the branches. On sloping ground make sure the saucer will hold water on the low side. Stake the tree as per the diagram.

To ensure a healthy vigorous tree, we recommend you fertilize three times a year. This is very important to establish the plants and then keep them in a healthy condition.

First Application

May 15 or after planting (11-51-0)
This application is high in Phosphorus (middle number) to help establish root growth.

Second Application

July 1 (10-30-10)
The introduction of potassium (the last number) helps prepare the trees for winter. It helps thicken the tree's cell walls, and increase food reserves in the roots to help prepare for winter.

Third Application

August 15 (0-0-60)
This fertilizer has only potassium (last number), and can be used up to Sep 15.

Note that some garden centres may have fertilizers that are slightly different. Close substitutions are acceptable.

Once planted, the trees should be watered once per week. During the whole month of September, water only once to help harden off for the winter. However, if the tree was planted in September, more watering is required. Water trees thoroughly in October to ensure they have adequate moisture within the root zone for the winter. If during the winter months there are prolonged Chinooks of a week or more, water the trees to prevent dehydration. This is especially important on evergreen trees from December onwards.

The following trees will not survive if over watered:

Amur Cherry
Aspen
Birch
Crabapple
Mountain Ash
Spruce

When watering, water the trees until the root ball is saturated. Allow the soil at the top of the root ball to dry before watering again to saturate. Make a saucer to hold the water roughly level with the outside branches to catch rain water. Trees like a wet / dry cycle.

Please feel free to call the Tree Hotline if you have any queries or concerns. We hope you enjoy your tree for years to come!