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Hyacinth Plant

Q.Replanting bare root trees

Zone Rockledge, FL, Zone 9 | dkamarinos added on December 19, 2016 | Answered

I just planted two bare root trees last Thursday. I soaked them for about 30-45 minutes in buckets of water just after they arrived in their packaging. While the roots were soaking in water, I dug holes for each tree and made sure they were very wide, as instructed by various websites online. Then I quickly planted them into the ground and tried to follow instructions as best as possible. I did make sure they were planted shallow, and I watered them generously. Two mistakes I made were that I compacted the soil with my feet, not with too much power, but I read online that can be bad for the root systems. Also, I at first mulched too close to the trunks, but have already pulled back the mulch.

I guess I am a bit worried that I compacted the trees too much around the base and that I could be setting the trees for an early death, so my question is: Can I replant these trees in the next few days when they’re ready to be watered again? Quickly, of course, just taking them out gently, and resetting them back into position, compacting the soil this time with just my hands and using water to settle the soil?

Also, I heard watering them once a week is sufficient. I live down in Florida in Zone 9 and both of my trees are hardy in Zone 9, but it a very warm winter so far and these trees are usually grown up north in climates with cooler winters. Should I be watering them a bit more due to the warmth and humidity?

They’re mulched very well and I’ve been feeling the soil around the base to find that the soil is still moist now, having been a couple of days since they were last watered.

Any advice on if replanting them is an option would be greatly appreciated, Merry Christmas!

A.Answers to this queston: Add Answer
Alisma
Certified GKH Gardening Expert
Answered on December 20, 2016

Yes, you can replant the tree, since it's been in the ground only about a week. For future reference, here are the Ten Commandments of Tree Planting from Colorado State U:

https://www.colostate.edu/Dept/CoopExt/4dmg/Trees/command.htm

The humidity should help the tree need less water, but if you have any hot dry periods, watering could benefit the tree. Other than that, watering once a week should be plenty.

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