How to Plant a tree in poor soil with This Old House

Watch this video from This Old House to learn how to plant a tree in poor soil.

Steps:

1 Select spot for tree away from house and overhead wires.

2 Measure diameter of the plastic tree pot.

3 Dig a hole four times wider than pot and as deep as the pot.

4 Add compost to topsoil; mix with shovel.

5 Set tree in hole; lift up and pull off pot.

6 Rotate best face of tree toward street with main branches parallel with house.

7 Scratch root ball with cultivator to loosen roots.

8 Add starter fertilizer and superphosphorous to topsoil.

9 Backfill around tree with amended topsoil.

10 Form 4-inch-high ring of soil around tree, fill with water.

11 Stake tree with wires; wrap garden hose around wire to protect tree bark.

12 Add 2 or 3 inches of bark mulch; keep mulch away from trunk.

13 Wrap drip-irrigation bag around base of tree; fill bag with water.

14 Refill the bag with water twice every week until the root system is established.