Planting a tree or large shrub – the basics.

Let us assume that you have decided where you want to plant your tree or shrub, having taken into account its eventual size, the shade it will create, and its proximity to walls, power lines and underground pipes and cables.

This plant is going to be in the position for many years so care needs to be taken to ensure a healthy start.  There some excellent sites that will give you information about choosing and planting a tree, so I am only going to include the main points that have worked for me.

Before planting I like to soak the root ball overnight in its bag in a bucket of water as this helps to loosen the often compacted soil in the bag.

Dig a hole of 1m³ for a tree and 0,75m³ for a large shrub.

Mix into the soil heap a good amount of compost – I use a 50 litre bag as my soil is very stony. The following additions can be added according to your soil's needs: bone-meal,  agricultural lime, super phosphate, 2:3:2 or an organic fertiliser. For correct quantities refer to manufacturer's instructions. Be cautious with fertilisers and chemicals as they can burn the fine roots.  I usually only add organic fertiliser and bone meal.  If your ground has a fair amount of clay, mix in a bag of milled bark to help with drainage.

Combine all the goodies thoroughly with the soil that has been dug out and re-fill the hole with the mixture. Tamp the soil down firmly as you proceed, filling the hole to the depth of the bag and make a small hump in the middle. Remove the bag carefully and loosen the fine roots gently with your fingers or a blunt object.  Arrange the roots over the hump in the re-filled hole and position the tree. Make certain that the soil level in the bag and the soil level of the surroundings are matched. Most trees will react negatively if their trunk base is either buried or exposed. Fill the rest of the hole, pressing down the soft soil around the root ball.  Water well to settle the soil and add more soil if needed.

Use logs, branches or extra soil to build a moat around the drip area of the tree. The tree's roots will be traveling so prepare their way by preserving moisture, protecting the soil surface and lessening the influence of weeds, by mulching the entire area within the moat. Keep the immediate area around the tree's base clear or it may rot.  Mulch should be about 10cm thick.

It is usually a good idea to stake the young tree to prevent breakage, guide growth and reduce the effect of wind. Use a sturdy stick pressed deeply into the ground and loosen the bindings as the tree grows so that it does not get damaged or slowly strangled.

Water weekly during the first year or two for optimum growth.  You can often control the size of the tree with the amount of water it is given:  regular, deep watering will result in a much bigger tree than one given occasional watering.

Initially I ignored the hole size as being ridiculous overkill but have since learnt that a small, mean hole will invariably result in a small, mean and often sickly tree.  The large hole allows the roots to spread easily as they gobble up the nutrient meal you have provided.  You are rewarded with a healthy, fast-growing tree with a well-developed root system anchored strongly into the ground.

Try these sites for more detailed information:
http://www.wikihow.com/Plant-a-Tree
http://www.tree-planting.com/tree-planting-4.htm