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Plant a Tree This Spring
A single shade tree in your yard provides extra comfort during the summer heat while also reducing your energy consumption and carbon footprint.
As our real estate agents can tell, planting a tree near Augusta homes for sale is all about giving your tree enough time to develop roots and survive stressors that can hinder its growth. Most tree-planting experts swear by established planting seasons; early spring, after the ground thaws, and autumn, after the leaves fall off.
Why Plant in Spring?
In Maine, autumn can be too late. Many trees don't survive the freezing temperatures that can damage roots and reduce the amount of moisture reaching the tree. Planting in spring, however, has several upsides:
- Early Start – planted in spring, a new tree has an entire growing season to develop its root system.
- Mild Weather – still low soil temperatures promote root growth.
- Plenty of Choices – in spring, garden centers are usually stocked with the largest selection of species and varieties.
Thinking about planting a tree this spring? Consider these options.
Maple Tree
In addition to large branches and leaves, the fast-growing maple trees also boast a vibrant palette of colors throughout the seasons, providing not only comfortable shade but also a beautiful addition to your landscape. Due to their root system, maple trees are one of the sturdiest types of trees you can grow in Maine, resistant to extreme temperatures, heavy winds, and a variety of pests and diseases.
Japanese Maple Tree
If you don't have enough space for a maple tree, an ornamental Japanese maple tree is a great alternative. While much smaller, it still adds beauty and spacing to your yard with its palette of reds, greens, purples, and browns. Since it's a smaller tree, it's less temperature-resistant, so wrapping burlap around your tree during winter can protect it from damage or even death.
Oak Tree
Oak trees are not only one of the fastest-growing trees you can grow in Maine but also one of the most resistant ones. While young trees are susceptible to pests and diseases, fully grown oaks can withstand pollution, aren't sensitive to soil type, and thrive in extreme temperatures. However, due to their strong root systems, oaks shouldn't be planted too close to your home's foundation.
How to Plant a Tree?
Properly planting a tree requires more than just an idea or luck - if you want your tree to thrive, you need to follow the proper steps:
- A planting hole needs to be three times wider than your tree's root mass but only as deep as your tree's previous growing environment.
- Before planting the tree, inspect its root system and break up any patterns or densely bound sections.
- Don't amend the planting hole with any material - areas of different soil compositions can hinder root development down the line.
- Leave up to 25% of the roots above the surrounding soil level.
- Instead of hand-packing the soil, remove air pockets with a stiff spray of water, preventing dead roots and providing more moisture to the young plant at the same time.
- To protect young roots from overheating and dehydration, cover the surrounding area, starting two inches from the trunk, with two inches of mulch.
- Until fully established, water your tree with slow, deep irrigation that allows roots to absorb as much moisture they need without any excess runoff.
Contact us today to find not only your perfect Augusta home but also a perfect yard for your tree-planting adventures.