As a horticulturist and licensed arborist, I'm often called in as a "tree doctor" to diagnose sick trees. My heart goes out to distraught or bewildered gardeners who have patiently tended their trees, only to see them wither.When I see a tree struggling or near death, it usually comes down to one of three problems. Either it was planted in the wrong place; it was planted too deep; or synthetic material, such as nylon cord or plastic wrapping, was left around the root ball. These mistakes often become apparent only after one or more growing seasons. And, unfortunately, it may take two or three years to bring a sick tree back to health. It's much easier to get a tree off to a good start by giving it the best growing conditions possible.

I've used the following basic techniques to plant thousands of balled-and-burlapped trees in the past 30 years. I can vouch that they work virtually every time.

THE SECRETS FOR GETTING BALLED AND
BURLAPPED TREES OFF TO A GOOD START

1. Review Your Site's Growing Conditions Before You Buy
2. Dig A Hole The Right Size
3. Burlap Wrapping Protects The Tree's Roots
4. Backfill The Hole And Add Some Organic Composts
5. Mound The Soil To Make A Watering Well Around The Tree
6. New Trees Need Water And Close Monitoring