Planting our trees

 

Upon purchase

You will receive trees potted in 1-3 gallon nursery pot.

  • Fall Planting (September-October)

  • Dig hole several inches wider/deeper than pot

  • Place tree with roots and potting soil in hole

    • Fabric nursery pot can have sides slit and placed directly in hole

  • Fill soil around roots and pack dirt tight to prevent air from getting to roots

  • Fill in remaining hole with soil, keeping base soil slightly depressed from soil around it to allow rain/runoff to collect for additional water

  • DO NOT add fertilizer at planting

  • Thoroughly Water immediately upon planting

  • We STRONGLY recommend caging trees after planting

 

Location for Planting

Plant in full sun or partial shade

  • Our trees grow best with direct sunlight from morning until early afternoon and then shade in late afternoon shielding from warmer afternoon temperatures.

  • Make sure to water regularly especially in dry conditions until well established, 1” of water per week. Monitor for leaves drying out or turning crispy

  • You should plant 2 or more trees to ensure cross pollination. Plant trees within 40’ of each other for this reason. GROW A PAIR.

  • Chestnut trees prefer well drained upland soil with pH of 5.0-6.0. If planted in clay soils ensure proper drainage away from planted trees to ensure water does not pool around the tree for long periods of time

  • Keep weeds away from newly planted tree as they will compete for moisture.

Protecting Your Trees

  • Wire Fencing/Caging at least 4’ tall

    • Deer will browse seedlings to the ground if left unprotected

    • Chicken wire or concrete remesh work well for this

  • Ensure cage allows for some additional horizontal growth but not easily accessible to wildlife

    • We have found that a 6’ length of mesh works well as a protective barrier.

  • We DO NOT recommend tree tubes:

    • tree grows too fast causing weak trunk base

    • tubes allow vermin to eat the bark and girdle the tree causing death of the seedling

 
 

Fertilizer

Fertilize trees in the spring typically March or April and again in June.  Place fertilizer at the drip line of the tree and never at the trunk of the tree.  Use a well balanced fertilizer such as a 10-10-10 or 12-12-12.  Figure on 1 lbs of fertilizer per inch of trunk minimum.  If you fertilize twice a year provide a ½ lbs in the spring and ½ lbs again in June for the second application