Gardening tips for mid-December

published 11 December 2010

Horticultural aide memoire

No.47: Plant a tree

Dig a round hole comfortably wider and deeper than the tree's root spread. Break up the soil in the bottom with a fork or a pick. Make a cone of soil in the middle and rest the rootball on it. If the tree is a standard, drive in a stake close to the trunk, but without damaging the rootball. Carefully backfill the soil by shovelling, and rest your weight on it to consolidate (but not squash) it as you go. Make sure the nursery mark (you'll see) is at the final soil level. If staked, tie tree to stake. Admire your work.

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