This step-by-step guide covers how to correctly a plant pot-grown tree (a tree supplied in a pot or container) into the ground, including how to install a single stake & tie. This guide is aimed specifically at single stem trees up to 250cm height.
Pot-grown trees can be planted at any time of year, provided the ground is not frozen or waterlogged.
You can watch the video version of this guide below.
What's in this guide
Equipment List
- Spade & trowel
- Compost & a large container such as a wheelbarrow (for mixing compost)
- Rootgrow (optional but recommended)
- Single stake & tie (if your tree has a single stem)
- Lump hammer
Step 1: Prepare the planting site
Remove all weeds and grass ideally within a metre of your desired planting hole, then dig a hole the same depth as the pot or rootball and approximately twice as wide. Digging a square-shaped hole encourages roots to grow straighter and extend out of the planting hole.
Loosen the soil in the bottom of the hole, then sprinkle some Rootgrow in the hole to help the tree to grow strong and healthy roots.
Step 2: Place the tree in the hole and backfill
Remove the pot and place the tree in the hole. Ensure the tree is upright and the top of the tree’s compost is flush with (or raised slightly above) the level of the surrounding soil. If the tree comes with a bamboo cane, keep this attached.
Using your large container, mix some of the soil from the planting hole with an equal proportion of planting (or homemade) compost, and use the mix to refill around the tree. Take care not to bank the soil up over the collar or graft union of the tree as this can cause rotting. Gently press the soil to firm it.
Step 3: Install a stake, if needed
If your tree has a single stem, we recommend staking to provide essential support during those early years of growth. The stake should be kept in place for approx. 12-18 months, after which time it can be removed, provided the tree has established well. We don't recommend staking bushes or multi-stem trees.
For trees up to 2.5 metres in height, use a medium-sized single stake. Place the stake upwind of the tree so that the tree is blown away from the stake, at a 45 degree angle so it is not penetrating the root mass. Using a lump hammer, knock it in until it is firm, until about 1/3 of the stake is underground. Ensure the top of the stake remains adjacent to the tree.
Step 4: Attach the stake to the tree using a tie
Tie the tree trunk to the stake using a tree tie, firm enough to support it but not so tight as to restrict the tree’s growth. We recommend using a buckle tie with a spacer as this can be adjusted as the tree grows in size. The spacer prevents rubbing by allowing some space between the stake and tree trunk.
Step 5: Water the tree
Water directly at the base of a tree. A tree planted in dry or warm weather will need a generous soaking. In winter, or if the soil is moist, less water will be needed.
Before watering, you can apply an After Plant Fertiliser around the base of the tree to aid nutrient uptake – this is an optional step but is particularly beneficial in new build gardens or anywhere with poor soil quality.
You can also apply a layer of organic mulch at this stage, about 2 to 3 inches deep, to help retain soil moisture and suppress weeds.
Step 6: After planting
If planting in dry weather, water well in the first week. A tree planted in autumn should only require a little watering. Most dormant trees won't need watering over winter, apart from evergreen trees which may require occasional winter watering in particularly dry spells. In spring and summer, continue to water well and regularly as required. Learn more about good watering practice by reading our guide on How to Water Trees Correctly.
Keep the planting area free of competing weeds, grass and other plants for the first couple of growing seasons. Keep the stake in place for approx. 12-18 months, after which time it can be removed (provided the tree has established well).
