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Home
Yard & Garden
Trees & Shrubs
How to Plant a Tree

How to Plant a Tree

Roger Cook's step-by-step guide to getting your new tree off to a healthy start

Joseph TruiniThis Old House magazine

Close

Introduction
Overview
Step 1
Mark the ground
Step 2
Measure the height of the root ball
Step 3
Dig the hole
Step 4
Measure the depth of the hole
Step 5
Position the tree
Step 6
Loosen densely packed soil
Step 7
Backfill the hole
Step 8
Set up drip-irrigation bags

a x-mas tree in the Blair House in Washington, DC with a homemade x-mas tree box stand

landscapers secure the newly planted tree in its hole

For more on trees:

• Tree Placement
• Trees for Small Yards
• How to Choose Palm Trees
• Ginkgo: A Tree You Can't Forget
• Using Trees to Save Energy
• How to Fertilize Fruit Trees

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