Private Tree Care

1. In Edmonton, late spring and early fall are ideal times to plant. Planting can be done during the summer; however, it should be avoided during heat-waves.
2. Contact Utility Safety Partners to ensure that there are no conflicting underground utilities near your desired planting location.
3. Handle with care. Always lift the tree by the rootball.
4. Remove all the packaging from the tree. If the root ball is contained within a metal basket and/or burlap, only remove the top portion of the packaging to expose the root flare. A root flare, also called tree flare, is the section of the trunk that broadens to join with the upper main roots - roots that are at least as thick as a pencil. The remaining packaging should be removed once the tree has been placed in the hole - removing as much of the burlap and wiring as possible without causing the root ball to start to fall apart.
5. Remove excess soil from the top of the root ball to reveal the root flare, which should be located slightly above the ground after planting.
6. Dig a hole that is approximately 2-3 times as wide as the root ball, with a depth equal to the height of the remaining root ball.
7. Check for encircling roots. Reorient or cut roots that are growing in a circular pattern to prevent such roots from girdling the tree in the future.
8. Backfill the hole with good soil. You can generally use the soil that you dug out of the hole, unless it is primarily clay. As you add soil to the hole, gently tamp it with your foot to secure the tree in place and to remove large air pockets.
9. Top with a 5-7cm deep mulch ring to help with moisture retention and to improve soil quality. This mulch will also help to protect the tree’s roots from extreme weather conditions, which are becoming more common in Edmonton. Keep the mulch at least 5cm away from the tree trunk to prevent moisture from building up against the trunk which can cause decay. Mulch should be reapplied as it breaks down as mature trees benefit from mulch too. Ensure that the mulch isn’t deeper than 10 cm as too much mulch may prevent oxygen from entering the soil, which roots need to survive.
10. Immediately water in the newly planted tree. See watering tips below.

For more information, reference the Tree Planting video that corresponds to the root ball packaging of your tree.

• Water your tree in the early morning or evening.
• Trees can drown! Confirm that the soil is dry prior to watering. Put your finger into the soil - if it is moist to the touch, your tree may not need watering just yet.
• Water between the base of the tree and the tree's drip line, which is the imaginary line extending from the outermost branch tips straight down to the ground.
• Water slowly and deeply to reach the roots responsible for gathering water. This is best achieved by applying a slow trickle of water, which may take a few hours for larger-sized trees. Slow watering is especially important in Edmonton as clay loam soil (soil that consists mostly of clay) is common. Due to the small particle size of clay, water absorbs very slowly into the soil and will run off if applied too quickly.
• During drought conditions, the soil may first repel the water. Water lightly several times on the first day until the soil will accept the water.
• Avoid getting water directly on the tree as it increases the likelihood of tree pathogens occurring.
• Apply wood mulch to help to keep the roots cool and moist.
• Water your trees well in early spring after the ground thaws and in the fall right before the ground freezes to prepare for winter.

The City waters newly-planted and transplanted City-owned trees regularly for approximately the first 3 years. If your new boulevard tree needs attention, please contact 311.