Tree Selection, Planting, and Care
Help your tree thrive
Why Plant a Tree?
Trees have many health, environmental, financial, and aesthetic benefits, for example:
- Trees provide shade on hot days, lowering temperatures and cooling bills.
- Trees filter out air pollution.
- Trees provide food and habitat for wildlife.
- Trees filter and limit stormwater runoff, improving water quality.
- Trees produce oxygen while reducing greenhouse gasses in the atmosphere.
- Trees provide natural beauty and promote a sense of calm.
Planting trees is a fun, easy, and low-cost way to help the environment and enhance the beauty of our community.
The following sections will help you select the right trees, and the right place to plant them. Later we will provide resources to help you plant and care for your trees.
Where to Plant a Tree?
It is important to plant your tree in a location where it will have room to grow without causing problems for buildings or infrastructure. This guide from the City of Bellevue will help you find the right spot.
When to Plant
Trees adapt best when planted during dormant seasons (late Fall through early Spring). This gives the trees time to build a healthy root system in their new location. If planting in the spring, they should be planted as early as possible so they have some time to adapt before hot, dry weather causes stress. Trees planted in the spring may need extra water to survive through summer, especially if its a hot, dry summer.
Which Tree Should I Choose?
Aesthetics & Function
Do you want a tree to perform a specific function?- Evergreen trees provide privacy, wind break, and shading all year round.
- Deciduous trees can provide shade in the summer and let through the winter sun when they lose their leaves.
- Evergreen trees are green and full all year round.
- Deciduous trees can provide interesting fall colors, or seasonal flowers.
Size and Form
- Choose a size and shape that makes sense for the location.
- Make sure the tree’s mature height and canopy spread will not interfere with the surrounding buildings, power lines, fences, etc., as shown in the diagram above.
- The roots will grow at least as wide as the canopy, and remain close to the surface, so avoid planting close to pavement and building foundations.
Light
Here are the different classifications of light requirements for trees: |
Full sun means 6 or more hours of direct sun. Usually this describes a south or southwesterly site with little to no shade at any time of the day from either trees or a structure. |
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Part sun means four to six hours of direct sun per day, not necessarily consecutive hours. It will generally do better with more afternoon sun, especially if its a flowering tree. |
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Part shade also means four to six hours of direct sun per day but most of that sunlight should come in the morning hours, when the sun’s intensity is lower. |
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Full shade means less than four hours of direct sun per day. It can also mean dappled light below a larger tree. |
Soil & Moisture
Your tree will do best if the soil type and moisture level is compatible with what it likes. Some trees like dry well-drained soil and some prefer moist water-retaining soil. Some trees are flexible and can tolerate a wide range. Our tree catalog provides this information on each tree.How to Plant your Tree
As you plant the tree, it helps to prepare the soil and the root ball. Watch this one-minute video and see further planting instructions from the Arbor Day Foundation.
How to Care for your Tree
Young trees will need water for the first summer or two. Give them a good drink every week or two when the weather is hot and dry in July and August.
After two years, the trees should have a strong enough root system to survive warm weather without extra water.
For complete information about tree care, see this comprehensive document from the Arbor Day Foundation: How to Select, Plant, and Care for a Tree.
