How to Plant Bareroot Silver Maple Trees
- 1). Remove the moist packing material and examine the roots. Use pruners or sharp scissors to cut off damaged roots or those that may be girdling the tree.
- 2). Soak plant roots in water for several minutes immediately before planting, but do not allow the roots to soak for more than an hour. As an alternative, dip the roots in fine-grade hydrogel slurry to keep the roots from drying out.
- 3). Dig a shallow planting hole two to three times wider than the root spread. Silver maples develop shallow but competitive root systems that double back through the soil as the tree matures. Scarify the sides of the hole if they are smooth, especially in clay and hardpan soils.
- 4). Place the silver maple seedling in hole. Make sure the roots hang straight down and the root collar, or the junction where the stem and root system meet, is at or just below grade.
- 5). Backfill half of the planting hole with loose, not crumbly soil. Sandy soils improve water retention with peat moss, but most soils do not need amendments during planting.
- 6). Fill the planting hole with water to collapse air pockets and settle the soil, then allow it thoroughly drain.
- 7). Backfill the hole until the soil is just below the root collar. Tamp the soil by hand or the handle end of the shovel to ensure good root to soil contact
- 8). Create a water basin by mounding soil in a 2- to 3-inch rim around the diameter of the hole. The well holds the water and nutrients in the growing zone so the roots have easier access.
- 9). Spread a layer of wood chips or shredded mulch over the basin, leaving a 2- to 3-inch gap between the seedling and the mulch to prevent rot and disease. Mulch helps retain moisture, regulates soil temperature and prevents weeds.
- 10
Maintain the tree's general health. Irrigate, fertilize and weed as necessary throughout the growing season.
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