Tree Care Library

There are plenty of beautiful trees out there, but we seek to bring only the best into your garden! To ensure your tree thrives, we want to give you all the knowledge and information you need. Here you’ll find what each piece of information on our tree tags means, frequently asked questions, and links to more helpful content on care and maintenance.

A closer look at our tree tags

 
Light Exposure:
• Sun = 6+ hours of bright sun each day
• Part Sun = 4-6 hours of sun daily, or filtered light throughout the day
• Shade = fewer than 4 hours of sun a day
If more than one exposure is listed, this indicates that the tree can tolerate both conditions. It also indicates that the tree prefers shadier conditions in hot climates and sunnier conditions in cool ones.

Hardiness:
This tells you if the tree tolerates the coldest winter temperatures experienced in your area. If you do not know your hardiness zone, you can find it here. Generally speaking, if you find one of our trees for sale at your local garden center, you can count on it being hardy in your landscape.

Size:
The height and width you can expect the tree to achieve at maturity. It may take many seasons for the tree to reach these proportions, depending on climate, growing conditions, and the size of the tree you start with.

Spacing:
A rough guideline explaining how far apart to plant multiple specimens of the same variety based on the width of the tree at maturity.

Bloom Time:
When you can expect the tree to flower. If it says “foliage” here, that means it does not bloom (in the case of conifers) or that the blooms are insignificant (too small to make an impact).

Soil & Water:
Here you’ll find any special soil requirements to consider before planting. Most of our varieties are not terribly finicky about soil, though the majority of trees do require well-drained soil.
In their first year, especially, you’ll need to provide supplemental water. Check on a weekly basis and when the soil is almost dry, water deeply. Fewer, deep soaks will benefit trees more than frequent, light watering will. Once established, be sure to water every 7-10 days during dry spells.

Care:
This section notes any special care the variety requires. In some cases, you’ll find fertilizing recommendations here. Do not fertilize new trees during their first two years in their new site. After that time, fertilizing is not strictly necessary in most cases. If you wish to fertilize, this will tell you the best time to do it.

Uses:
This section lists some common landscape uses for the tree, based on its habit (height, width, etc.). These are just suggestions; trees are versatile and can be used just about any way that you can dream up. Don’t feel bound by what you see here if you had a different use in mind.

Deer Resistance:
We rank a tree’s deer resistance on a scale of low, medium, or high. This assessment is based on Rutgers University’s website, compiled from research and reports at multiple universities around the country. Here’s a closer look at how we qualify these ratings

• Low: deer favor these trees, and their damage may disfigure the tree substantially. In some cases, low deer resistance may also mean that deer specifically eat the flower buds, depriving you of one of the key benefits of growing it. If deer visit your garden, plan on protecting any tree that is ranked “low” on our scale.
  
  
• Medium: deer may browse these trees occasionally or lightly. Any damage that they cause will typically be easy for the tree to recover from, though it may limit growth somewhat. It would be a good idea to protect these trees with a repellent, netting, or fence if you live in an area with high deer activity.
  
  
• High: deer rarely, if ever, browse these trees, so they can be grown in the open, without protection. Be aware that no tree is deer-proof, however, and if other food sources become scarce, deer may eat even their least-favorite trees.

Planting:
We recommend that the tree be planted in the way described in this part of the tag. We do not recommend adding anything to the soil at planting time, which can interfere with drainage and delay a tree getting established in the landscape - read the full explanation here.

FAQs
What should I consider before planting my tree?
Make sure the site is appropriate for the eventual size of your tree. Look for power lines, overhangs, and obstructions in general that would prevent your tree from growing naturally to its maximum potential. Also consider if there are any nearby buildings that would be negatively impacted by its mature size and placement (ex. blocking the view from a window or touching the exterior walls). Usually shifting the planting spot a couple of feet in one direction can prevent these future problems.

Should I apply mulch?
Yes, definitely. There are many benefits of mulching around the base of your tree, and the most notable are that it keeps the soil moist and prevents weeds (which compete for nutrients).

How do I apply mulch?
First, remove grass in a 3’ ring around the tree. Second, add a 2-4” layer of natural mulch on top of the bare ground, but be sure that none of the mulch is touching the trunk of the tree.

Does my new tree need to be staked?
In most instances, no. In some extreme cases, yes. You should stake your tree if it is sited in a very windy area, the root system is small and may not support the above ground growth, or the trunk bends if not supported.

Should I prune my tree?
Most often, our young ornamental trees will not need pruning. However, there are a few instances we do encourage it. Remove any damaged, dead, or crossing/rubbing branches. This can happen any time of the year. Prune spring-flowering trees after blooms fade; prune summer-flowering trees in winter or early spring.

When should I prune if I’d like to encourage growth?
Winter is the most common season to prune for this reason, as the tree is in its dormancy and will then put on vigorous spring growth.

More resources
Over the years, we’ve posted lots of articles on caring for trees and shrubs. Here’s a roundup of some pages that you might find helpful.

• Protecting plants over winter
• How to deal with winter damaged plants
• Why Plant in Fall? 
• Caring for Tree-Form Shrubs
• Fertilizing Trees & Shrubs

If you are looking for additional information on a tree, please search for your variety in our database.
If you’d like to get more in depth information on a tree care subject, let us know via feedback.