Choose a location that will allow the roots to spread and the canopy to grow freely. Stay away from building foundations, walls, decks, windows, powerlines and places that need good visibility (like street corners).
Consider other things like power, water, sewage, NBN, and reticulation that might be lurking underground, as these essential utilities play a crucial role in our daily lives and the overall functionality of a community. It’s vital to be aware of their presence when planning construction or renovation projects, as hitting an underground line can cause significant disruptions and safety hazards. Additionally, understanding the layout of these systems can help in making informed decisions about landscaping, fencing, or other outdoor modifications, ensuring that you don’t unintentionally compromise the integrity of vital infrastructure buried just beneath the surface.
Dig a hole as deep as the root ball and twice as wide: you want the soil around the edges of the roots to be loose and rich to encourage the tree to explore it’s new home.
Remove the tree from it’s container and gently loosen the roots at the bottom and sides. A little damage to the roots is preferable to leaving them tied up in a tight ball. Put the roots in the ground, making sure that the surface is not much lower than the surrounding ground level.
Mix the soil you removed with soil improver, fertiliser and water-saving granules before returning it to the hole. Gently tamp the soil and water it in to remove air pockets.
Use the left-over soil to make a donut of earth to hold water around the base of the tree – just within the drip line of the young tree. Water well (30 litres) and add a 5 cm deep layer of mulch (such as shredded bark) within the donut of raised soil.
Keep the root ball damp by watering every four days for the first few weeks, then weekly for the first two years (unless rainfall does this for you).
Geraldton Tree Canopy Advocates 