It may seem counterintuitive to plant a tree during the coldest months of the year, but fall and winter are the best times to do so in Nashville. This is because saplings benefit from cooler weather since it’s a period to establish their roots firmly in the ground, ready to revive when spring arrives. 

Many variables affect a tree’s ability to successfully settle into its new home, so paying attention to the needs of the plant will help you make sure that your young trees reach maturity. The less stressed a tree is, the healthier and stronger it will be.

What to Know About Planting Trees

Soil Conditions Affect a Tree’s Ability to Grow

After choosing a tree type and site to plant it, the soil should be prepared to receive the sapling by aerating it, or making it fluffy and loose. According to Michael Davie, Nashville Tree Conservation Corps board member and master arborist with Bartlett Tree Care, porous earth helps the tree reach its roots out into the soil, and allows water and air to collect in the ground. Hard, compacted soil can cause problems for root growth, making it more difficult to expand. 

Soil needs to be loose for water to drain as well, so the roots won’t drown, and dirt won’t be carried away when it rains. Make sure to loosen the ground beneath the spot where you plan to plant your tree, as well as the area around it. This is so that the main center roots will reach down to firmly establish the tree, while the bulk of the periphery roots reach outward, closer to surface level. 

During a transplanted tree’s first year in the ground, the root establishment process is critical for leaf production. Michael explains that “the longer these roots have to establish themselves before spring, the sturdier they will be.” If the roots become better established over the winter, they can take up more water as the weather warms, helping the tree to produce leaves. 

A Tree’s Greenery Is Its Energy Source

A tree’s leaves are the source of its energy, the product of the leaves’ photosynthesis. Leaves need a lot of moisture from the ground to grow, and more moisture is available during the colder months because less evaporates. When a sapling has time to establish itself before the demand for leaf production starts in spring, it will be better equipped to produce the leaves that will give it the energy to get through Nashville’s hot summers and continue to grow over the following decades. 

Trees Are Nourished by the Ground

Michael says one of the most important ways homeowners can make sure their trees survive to a healthy, mature age is by making sure there is enough bioactivity in the soil directly beneath the tree. Doing things like aerating the soil before planting and making sure it gets enough water regularly contribute to more bioactivity in the soil, which nourishes the tree. “In the wild, trees lose leaves, which decompose into a natural bed of compost that feeds the roots,” he says. “This cycle can be lost in yards that are mostly grass, where trimmings and fallen leaves are often taken out of that on-site nutrient production process.” Taking the steps to ensure that a tree’s environment is the most fertile it can be makes a difference in the tree’s ability to take its place firmly for the long haul.