How to Care for Your Newly Planted Trees: Essential Tips for Healthy Growth

Planting a tree is an exciting step in creating a beautiful and sustainable landscape and the initial care you provide to your newly planted trees in the first 12 months of its life is crucial for their long-term health and growth. Good establishment in the early stages leads to good tree health and growth in the future, so here are three core and essential care tips we recommend for the greatest planting success.

Keep the Base of the Tree Free from Grass and Weeds

Weeds and grass compete with your newly planted tree for valuable resources such as water, nutrients, and sunlight. When left, weeds and grass can stunt the growth of young trees by overcrowding their root systems and depriving them of the necessary nutrients they need to thrive.

Keeping the base clear also allows for better airflow around the tree and promotes healthy root development whilst keeping the trunk clear and free from abrasions and wounds that may make the tree vulnerable to diseases and pests.

It is good practice to:

Mulch the Area: Apply a layer of organic mulch (such as wood chips, bark or manure) around the base of the tree, keeping it 2–3 inches away from the trunk. Mulch helps suppress weed growth, conserves moisture, and improves soil health.

When using manure be sure to well-rotted manure or compost.

Hand-pull Weeds: Regularly check the area around the base of the tree for weeds and remove them by hand to avoid disturbing the tree’s roots.

Avoid Any Chemicals: If you are removing weeds manually, it’s best to avoid using chemicals near your new tree, as they can damage the tree and contaminate the soil.

Watering: The Key to Healthy Growth

Watering is one of the most important aspects of caring for newly planted trees. Young trees are particularly vulnerable to drought and need consistent moisture during their early years. However, too much water can be just as harmful as too little, leading to root rot and other complications.

Young trees are more susceptible to stress from environmental factors, consistent watering helps the tree establish deep, strong roots that are essential for long-term growth and adequate watering helps them to cope with temperature fluctuations and dry spells.
On top of this proper hydration encourages healthy leaf and branch growth, which is essential for the tree’s overall development.

Watering Top Tips:

Water Deeply, Not Frequently: When watering, aim to water deeply to encourage deep root growth. A slow, deep soak is much better than frequent shallow watering. 

Water Early in the Morning: Watering early in the morning helps the tree absorb moisture before the heat of the day, reducing evaporation losses.

Monitor Soil Moisture: Check the soil regularly by sticking your finger into the ground. If it feels dry, it’s time to water. If it feels damp, wait a few days before watering again.

Adjust for Seasonal Changes: In the cooler months, especially Winter your trees shouldn’t need water, however, during the Spring and Summer, especially during a drought, you will need to water more frequently.

Pruning: Shaping and Encouraging Healthy Growth

Pruning may not be the first thing you think of when caring for a newly planted tree, but it plays an important role in shaping the tree and encouraging healthy growth. Pruning helps prevent the growth of weak branches, removes damaged or diseased parts, and allows the tree to focus its energy on strong, healthy growth. Another benefit of pruning your new tree is to lessen ‘planting shock’ by removing the top part of the tree, this will make your tree much happier in its planting transition.

How to Prune Your Tree:

Know Your Variety and always check the label: Pruning is very specific to the variety of tree you have. Fruit, and in particular apples, you want to be pruning in Late Winter/Early Spring. However, this is not the case with some ornamentals. Making sure you’re pruning at the correct time of year minimises stress on the tree and helps prevent disease. 

Focus on the Structure: In the early stages, focus on shaping the tree by removing any broken or diseased branches and cutting back any crossing branches that may rub against each other. This ensures the tree grows with a strong central leader and good spacing between branches. By removing damaged or crossing branches, you are also reducing the risk of fungal infections or pests that may harm your tree.

Avoid Heavy Pruning: When pruning a young tree, be gentle. Avoid removing too much of the canopy, as this can stress the tree. Prune just enough to help with structural integrity.

Use The Right Tools: Always use clean, sharp tools to make clean cuts. Dull or dirty tools can damage the tree or introduce disease. For more on this check out our blog on tools. 

Planting Correctly: Give Your Tree the Best Start

It’s worth recapping, that planting your tree properly to begin with will give your tree the best start in your garden, correct staking, preparation of your tree and planting into the hole or pot are all vital in successful tree performance.  

Here are some tips on planting your tree if you’ve missed them.

Taking the time to care for your newly planted trees will reward you with healthy, vibrant trees that will thrive for many years to come. By keeping the base free from grass and weeds, ensuring proper watering, and practicing gentle pruning, you’ll provide your tree with the best possible start. Remember that patience and consistent care are key—new trees need time to adjust to their new environment, and with the right support, they will grow strong and beautiful.