Tree Planting Guide

Tree Planting Resources

Tree Size & Planting Distance from Structures & Parking

Trees for use in the landscape are usually classified as small, medium and large. These trees should be planting at specific minimum distances from structures, such as houses and carports, as well as parking spaces. These are generally suggested distances to plant trees away from structures, but every tree is different. Contact Amy May  for guidance if you are considering planting a tree near your unit.

Tree Species

Not all trees are suitable for planting in the Salt Lake Valley. We want to prioritize native and/or water-wise trees, as well as those that are tolerant to urban conditions (i.e. pollution, occasional flooding, drought, etc.). Ideally, we avoid trees that are invasive to this area, prone to disease and possess weak wood.

See Tree Utah’s list of suitable trees to start:  https://www.treeutah.org/tree-guide

What to avoid when planting trees

• Do not plant trees near underground pipelines, septic tanks, walks or drives or under overhead wires. Check with your local utility companies for the location of buried utility lines
• Do not plant a tree where it will overhang the house, in front of the front door or where it will obstruct a desirable view from inside the house.
• Do not plant a large tree closer than 5 feet from a sidewalk; it will eventually push up the concrete.
• Do not plant trees closer together than half their total spread at maturity.
• Do not plant trees directly on property lines.
• Do not plant trees that give dense shade where you want to grow grass

How to properly plant a tree

• Using a shovel handle, measure the width and depth of the root ball of the tree you are planting.
• Remove any grass/weeds in a circle that is 2-3 times the width of the root ball.
• Dig the planting hole as a shallow bowl that is the width of the circle and the depth of the tree’s root ball.
• Remove any tags from the trees branches and gently place it in the planting hole.
• Gently take the tree out of the container or remove the wire basket and burlap, taking care to keep the root ball together.
• Find the root flare of the tree (on obvious bulge where the tree transitions from stem to root) and make sure there is no soil above it. Some nursery grown trees will have as much as 3-4 inches of soil above the root flare.
• Re-measure the planting hole to be sure that the root flare is at or just above the level of the ground.
• Backfill around the tree until the planting hole is filled in. Pack down the soil as you fill in the planting hole
• Give the tree 10-20 gallons of water to help pack down the soil and remove air pockets in the planting hole.
• Follow the next tree care tip to properly mulch the newly planted tree.

Proper tree planting tips

• Make sure the base of the trunk is flush with the soil. Trees are usually planted too deep.
• If possible, add compost, biochar and mycorrhizae combination to the hole before planting the tree, this in ensure maximum success.
• Leave any wood grind from previous trees in place as it will provide natural compost for the next tree.
• Add an irrigation ring set up to the tree as soon as it is planted. Put the irrigation set on a timer. Consistent and proper watering is crucial during the establishment phases. Infrequent deep water is better than frequent shallow watering. Unestablished trees should be watered 1-2 times per week to a depth of 2-4.”