Thinking about where you could locate a new tree, or whether you have enough space? Finding the right spot for your new tree will allow it to grow and thrive, complementing your house and yard for years to come. You’ll want to give your tree access to lots of soil for roots to grow into and avoid places where your tree cannot spread and grow.
Steps to Take
Begin by ruling out places you where should not plant. These include places where your tree may not thrive, but also places where your tree could interfere with things like your home or internet service.
Avoid planting where a tree was recently removed. The ground close to where the trunk stood will be almost impossible to dig into for at least a couple of years.
Give your tree roots the space they need to grow and access to water from a soft surface above. Ensure you plant a minimum of one and a half metres away from a fence and any hard surfaces such as driveways, paths, or sidewalks. You also want to plant a minimum of two metres away from any structures like sheds and three metres away from your house to avoid interfering with drainage or waterproofing. You want to give your tree roots the space they need to grow and access to water from a soft surface above.
It may seem obvious, but avoid planting where the tree could interfere with utilities like overhead power lines, or underground gas, water, or other pipes. Before you plant, contact Ontario One Call to come to mark your underground utilities and avoid planting where those utilities lie.
Once you have a possible location in mind, ensure you choose the right tree for the conditions in that particular spot. If you have a sunny location (six or more hours of sunlight per day), choose a sun-loving tree; if you want to plant in a low, wet spot, choose a tree that does well in moist soils.
Watch it Grow
Watching your healthy tree grow and change over many seasons is a delight. Do your best to choose the best planting location and you will help foster a vibrant tree and healthy neighbourhood.