Tree Planting | How to Purchase, Plant and Care for Trees

Organo-Lawn: Organic Lawn Care for Colorado
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Purchasing a Tree

Planting a new tree can be very beneficial for the health and aesthetics of a landscape. Trees create contrast to a landscape with their unique characteristics like fall color, berries, appealing shapes, ornamental bark, etc. Trees are also environmentally friendly because they convert greenhouse gasses into oxygen, prevent soil erosion, provide shelter from wind, and help conserve water by providing shade for lawns.

“The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now.”

-Anonymous

“Now remember children. No deep breathing after we get into the city.”

-Anonymous

A Thought Before Buying A Tree:

Nobody cut down the forests of Eastern Colorado. Before man there were only a few trees in the Front Range, mostly cottonwoods and willows that grew along the stream banks. Colorado is a tough place to grow trees and unless you plant your tree in the kitchen, expect some storm and weather damage over the years.

Tree Consultations and Selecting a Tree:

Choosing a tree is a difficult three-step process; even for an experienced tree expert. First you must select the planting site, then the tree species and cultivar, and finally the tree. There are many questions that must be answered when selecting a tree. Deciduous or coniferous? Big, Medium or Small? Shade tree or ornamental? Interesting flowers or fruit? Attractive to wildlife? Edible fruit? A tree to block or frame a view? How important is fall color, drought tolerance, insect resistance, or low maintenance? There are over 300 different tree cultivars that can be grown in Colorado and all of them have unique characteristics.

Unlike nurseries Organo-Lawn offers tree consultations at your location. At the planting site our trained technician can fully select trees that can survive in the unique characteristics of the planting location and suggest suitable trees that will match your desires.

Our technician will also educate a homeowner about unique tree species, plant health care, and why a certain tree species will thrive in a location while others will struggle. In many cases the homeowner may be unfamiliar with the many unique or lesser-known trees that do very well in Colorado. A tree is a significant purchase decision that will change the landscape for the next 100 years. Organo-Lawn’s tree consultation can make sure you get this decision correct by helping answer the many questions you must take into consideration when selecting a tree.

After a tree species and cultivar is selected our tree expert will hand-select a high quality tree for planting. This step is just as important and as difficult as selecting the tree’s planting site or the correct tree species. Our technician inspects the tree looking for a pleasing and sound structure, no signs of disease, and a large and healthy rootball. When possible we use only Colorado grown trees because they are used to the tough and ever-changing climate and are more durable and less likely to have problem than trees grown out of state.

Some of the tree species that we have available for purchase include the following: Alder, Apple, Arborvitae, Ash, Aspen, Beech, Birch, Buckeye, Caragana, Catalpa, Cherry, Coffeetree, Cottonwood, Crabapple, Cypress, Elm, Filbert, Fir, Hackberry, Hawthorn, Honeylocust, Hornbeam, Juniper, Larch, Lilac, Linden, Magnolia, Maple, Mountain Ash, Oak, Peach, Pear, Pine, Plum, Privet, Redbud, Serviceberry, Spruce, and Viburnum. Altogether we have over 300 different cultivars from over 40 different species.

Planting the Tree

Planting a tree is very difficult and unless the tree is very small it requires a lot of equipment, expertise, and labor to properly plant a tree. At Organo-Lawn we hand dig each tree hole minimizing damage to other landscape plants. View the chart below to understand the size, weight, and planting requirements of the different sizes of trees.

A mature Northern Catalpa in Boulder.

The always-changing fall color of an
Autumn Purple Ash in Boulder.

Rory carefully selects a high quality Black Hills Spruce.

The beautiful fall color of a Red Maple.

Deciduous Trees
Tree Caliper	Ball Size	Tree Weight	Hole Size (W x D)
1.75"	24"	200 lbs	36" x 15"
2"	28"	400 lbs	40" x 17"
2.5"	32"	600 lbs	44" x 19"
3"	36"	800 lbs	48" x 21"
3.5"	40"	1200 lbs	52" x 24"

Coniferous Trees
Tree Height	Ball Size	Tree Weight	Hole Size (W x D)
5' - 6'	28"	400 lbs	40" x 17"
7' - 8'	32"	600 lbs	44" x 19"
9' - 10'	36"	800 lbs	48" x 21"
11' - 12'	40"	1200 lbs	52" x 24"

Properly planting a tree is difficult and extremely important for the trees survival and future success.

	1) The first step while properly planting a tree is safely transporting the tree without causing excessive stress. We will arrive at your house with a high quality tree covered to protect the foliage from wind and sun damage. We then carefully cart the tree making sure not to disturb the rootball to the desired planting location.
	2) The most important step in tree planting is to dig a hole that is much larger than the rootball. This is important because it allows the tree’s roots to properly establish in loose compaction free soil. When possible we attempt to save the sod around the tree so we can replace it after the tree is planted. We carefully remove the dirt from the planting location without damaging the surrounding vegetation.
	3) After the tree hole is properly dug and measured we carefully move the tree into the hole without damaging the rootball, tree trunk or foliage.
	4) After the tree is safely in the hole our technicians carefully remove only the top of the rootball basket and burlap. They then amend the soil with Rain Maker to help with water retention, Humate to help with root development and soil chelation, and Mycorrhiza to help with root development and overall plant health.
	5) Now the technicians will straighten the tree and fill the hole with a mix of the original soil and an enriched planters compost mix to ensure the soil is rich with nutrients and organic matter.
	6) The final product is a healthy tree that is planted correctly. The soil is amended with Rain Maker, Humate, Mycorrhiza, and an enriched planters compost mix. The tree is straight and staked properly to protect it from wind damage. All this and the tree is guaranteed to survive.

“No shade tree? Blame not the sun, but yourself.” - Ancient Chinese Proverb

Rory pounds an above ground tree stake into the ground after planting a Red Oak in Louisville.

Traditional Tree Staking
Included in the price of our tree plantings we offer above ground tree staking. This includes two metal posts hammered 2-4 feet into the soil. Between the stakes and the tree straps are plastic coated wire. Above ground tree staking helps protect the tree from wind damage but the stakes should always be removed after 1 year.

Underground tree stakes are available from Organo-Lawn for an additional charge.

Underground Tree Staking
Imagine, after your new tree is planted it is free of cumbersome wires and stakes. The underground feature of the Tree Staple stabilizers means that immediately upon installation, you have a finished, mature look to your new landscape. If the aesthetics alone is not enough of an enticement, think in terms of safety. Tree Staple stabilizers eliminate the danger of exposed stakes and wires that might injure children or pets. Below-grade stabilizing also allows a tree to move naturally, promoting it to grow properly and be more resistant to the forces of nature. Best of all the underground tree stakes never require removal. Below ground tree staking is available from Organo-Lawn for an additional charge.

Customers Duties, Preparation for the Tree Planting, Conditions, and Guarantee

This Autumn Purple Ash is beautiful in the fall when the foliage changes colors.

1) We care about the customer’s property and our technicians’ health and require the customer must contact Utility Notification Center of Colorado at 1-800-922-1987 or go to www.uncc.org and have the lawn and planting area(s) marked so we don’t hit anything. This is a free service and only takes a few minutes to call. The UNCC requires at least 3 days prior to our scheduled planting. If the customer does not do this we are not liable for any damage done to any underground lines. Organo-Lawn does not guarantee underground sprinkler lines, unmarked lines, or private lines of any kind. If an underground sprinkler line is hit and repairs are necessary the customer is fully responsible for the repair costs.

2) The customer must mark the exact center of the location where they want to plant the tree with a flag or clearly marked sign. They can spray paint the area if they want. The customer needs to leave a map on their front door with the location(s) to plant. If there is more than one tree being planted the map needs to indicate which tree type and size if more than one size of the exact same species of tree they want in each location. We cannot plant a tree on a previous tree location unless the tree stump has been fully removed. We do not remove tree stumps.

3) The customer must water the planting location every night starting 3 nights before the scheduled planting date. Water enough that the ground is soft 4 feet below the soil making it easy for us to dig. We don’t want the soil too wet making the soil muddy. The customer can avoid this by not watering the morning of the planting as it will cause the ground to be muddy. Organo-Lawn reserves the right to charge an additional digging difficulty charge of $50-$100.00 if the planting site is not watered. If we dig a hole and find there to be a reason that the tree should not be planted in the location (underground sprinkler lines, rocky soil, etc.) the customer may be charged a reasonable charge for the digging and refilling of the hole.

4) We call for a 20% restocking fee on any tree sent back to the Nursery after we deliver it to the homeowner’s house. This fee will be waived if the homeowner or we find problems with the tree after we arrive at the homeowner’s house, but only before we plant the tree. It will not be waived if the tree is in perfect health and the homeowner rejects the selection. We will not remove a tree after it is planted even if it is found to have a minor issue that is non-life threatening to the tree. If it has a major issue that is life threatening to the tree we will remove the tree and plant a new tree at no extra charge.

5) All tree purchases must be pre-paid by credit card or check at the time of planting or before the time of planting. We will not issue short-term credit for the planting of a tree.

6) If the customer wants to plant a tree in a difficult to access location they must advise us of this fact as we might not be able to get a large tree into that location. Difficult locations might include narrow gated areas, steps, steep hills, or tiered locations. If there is a gate that we need to go through the customer must make sure they select a tree that is small enough to fit through the gate. For instance if the customer only has a 36” gate they should not select any tree larger than 2.25” in size. Organo-Lawn reserves the right to charge extra for difficult access locations. The chart below is an approximate weight, size, and hole requirements for trees of the following caliper and height.

Deciduous Trees
Tree Caliper	Ball Size	Tree Weight	Hole Size (W x D)
1.75"	24"	200 lbs	36" x 15"
2"	28"	400 lbs	40" x 17"
2.5"	32"	600 lbs	44" x 19"
3"	36"	800 lbs	48" x 21"
3.5"	40"	1200 lbs	52" x 24"

Coniferous Trees
Tree Height	Ball Size	Tree Weight	Hole Size (W x D)
5' - 6'	28"	400 lbs	40" x 17"
7' - 8'	32"	600 lbs	44" x 19"
9' - 10'	36"	800 lbs	48" x 21"
11' - 12'	40"	1200 lbs	52" x 24"

7) The guarantee is as follows. All trees for sale have been inspected by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and found to be in good condition and apparently free from insect pests and plant diseases. After we plant the tree we have no control over the care of the tree, such as weather conditions, over-watering, under-watering, animal damage, person damage, lawnmower damage, etc. However, in good faith to our customers for the first 6 months or otherwise stated there is a 100% replacement guarantee. This means that if anything happens to the tree and it dies we will come back and replace the tree with a new tree at no charge to the customer. Exceptions include if someone or something intentionally damages the tree. Intentional damage includes but is not limited to: a pet eating or digging out the tree, running over the tree with a car or mower, damaging the tree bark with a trimmer, chopping down the tree with an ax or a chainsaw, spraying the tree with a pesticide that will kill the tree, excessively under-watering the tree, excessively over-watering the tree, etc. After six months or otherwise stated and before the guarantee expires we will guarantee the tree for anything excluding intentional damage for _ of the tree cost. For example if the tree price was $250.00 and the tree dies after 6 months and before the guarantee ends we will replace the tree for an additional $125.00. This does not mean we will refund $125.00 and plant no tree. We will, however, apply the guarantee credit to a different tree species of greater or equal value if the customer requests a change in tree species. We will allow the customer to change planting location if desired but the customer must pay an additional planting fee. If the customer decides to wait for a while and not plant a new tree, the guarantee is only valid for 6 months after the tree dies. Therefore, if the tree dies and we guarantee it but the customer wants to wait a few months before replanting the tree; the customer must contact us to plant a new tree prior to 6 months after Organo-Lawn decides the tree needs to be replaced. If the customer does not contact us within 6 months of the death of the tree the guarantee is no longer valid.