Tree & Shrub Planting
The first step of any planting project is to take stock of your growing area. Different tree and shrub species have different environmental requirements to grow well.
Look at your planned planting area and ask:
What tree and shrub species are already growing successfully in this area?
How much sunlight reaches my planting area? Is it full sun? Partial sun? Full shade?
How wet is the soil in this area at different times of the year?
Is there competition from other existing plants? If so, are they native or invasive? Do these plants need to be removed before planting?
Are there any other features that might make planting in this area challenging? (These might include excessive surface rock or seasonal standing water.)
After you’ve answered these questions, please refer to our Species Spreadsheet which should give you some ideas of what trees and/or shrubs will grow well in your chosen area.
Sourcing Tree & Shrub Seedlings
Once you decide what species are best suited to your growing site, it’s time to go shopping!
Nearly all plants that are put in the ground in New Jersey are at risk of being eaten by deer. You will either need to buy larger saplings/bushes that are taller than the deer can reach (which cost more) or build protective cages around smaller plants (which require more frequent maintenance).
Norway and White Spruce are some of the only trees that deer don’t enjoy eating; they are a great option for this reason!
We always recommend visiting your local nursery to find trees and shrubs that are already acclimated to the local climate, but there are several places to order seedlings online that we have had good success with as well.
Online Nurseries
Planting Tree & Shrub Seedlings
Our favorite stock to plant are ones that come with soil around the roots: either in pots or in a “plug”. These cost more than “bare root” plants, but the seedlings with soil around the roots have greater survival rates which may pay off in the end.
The trick to any successful tree/shrub planting (potted, plug, or bare root) is to disturb the roots as little as possible, make sure the roots have good contact with the soil, and the roots are all pointed in the right direction once in the ground.
We use a dibbler when planting, but a trowel or shovel works just as well. For larger potted trees and shrubs, a small excavator may be necessary. In very rocky northern NJ, expect to end up with a much larger hole than necessary and expect to bring in additional soil to fill the void where rocks were removed. Woody plants do not like having air gaps around their roots.
Watering your project immediately after planting and once a week during dry weather will help the new trees and shrubs become established.
Supplies