Trees & Shrubs
Fruit Tree Project List
Essential tips for growing thriving fruit trees in North Texas, including planting, care, and maintenance techniques for a bountiful harvest.
Discover essential tips for planting and maintaining trees and shrubs in North Texas, from soil preparation to proper watering techniques, ensuring a thriving and beautiful landscape.
A stately shade tree and structural evergreen shrubs can be the primary keys to
a beautiful landscape, and provide much of the property’s value. Getting these
plants properly established is critical to your investment and enjoyment of them.
Root Stimulator—Water new plantings thoroughly with organic root stimulator such as
Nature’s Guide Organic Root Stimulator and reapply twice per month for the first 6 months.
Liquid Seaweed—An organic extract that strengthens plants for better resistance to
temperature fluctuations, stress, and disease. Good as a drench or foliar spray. Ideally, soak
plants in the solution before planting.
Superthrive—Not a plant food, Superthrive contains 50 vitamins and hormones essential
for plant growth. Adding this solution to transplants can ease stress and reduce shock.
Mulch—Mulch retains moisture in the soil, suppresses weeds, moderates temperature, provides
a finished look, and will break down slowly to provide additional organic matter. Maintain a year-
round level of a shredded mulch such as Vital Earth Hardwood.
Soaker Hose—These specialty hoses provide slow, deep watering at the root zone. Water is
delivered slowly without evaporation over a much longer period than typical watering methods.
It is not recommended to introduce amendments into the soil for trees.
🍃 Amendments for SHRUBS:
Compost—Organic compost such as Vital Earth Organic Compost loosens heavy clay soils and helps make nutrients more available. Amend existing soil prior to planting shrubs.Expanded Shale—This porous, lightweight gravel increases drainage and aeration when
blended with existing soil, and is highly recommended for breaking up native clay soils.
See a Garden Advisor for help in choosing the right amendments for your shrubs.
TIMING: The time of year you plant will greatly affect how quickly your new plants become established. Spring and fall are the easiest times, with winter being an ideal window for
deciduous trees and larger shrubs. However, note that there may be only certain times of year
that your choice of plants will actually be available for purchase.
PREP: Turn in the recommended amendments when shrubs are to be planted as below. See a
Garden Advisor for help with the right ones. In heavy clay soils, it can be helpful to water the
area a few days prior to planting to make cultivation easier.
PLANT:
• First, make sure the root ball of the tree or shrub to be planted is thoroughly wet. This can
be done with a Root Stimulator solution ideally, or soaked with a hose.
• Dig the hole 2-3 times the width of the existing root ball. The depth, however, should be the
same or slightly less. You can measure with a yardstick to be sure. Do not disturb the soil
past the point necessary. The plant will rest slightly higher than the surrounding soil.
FOR TREES: Backfill the hole with only the soil that was removed; do not add any amendments.
FOR SHRUBS: Use the soil that was amendment for the specific needs of the shrub being
planted. Plants that prefer acidic soil, such as azaleas and Japanese maples, should also
receive an application of a soil acidifier such as Liquid Seaweed with Iron or pelletized sulfur
at planting time.
• Settle the soil by thoroughly watering the entire surface of the soil area that was dug.
• Apply the chosen mulch, making sure to leave about a 3” circle of space around the trunk or
lowest branches of the plant to keep them dry and allow for air exchange.
CULTURE: During this acclimation period, plants will put much more energy into developing a
root system than in producing top growth. For large trees and shrubs, you should not expect to
see much new growth or blooms the first year (depending on the variety). Larger
specimens can take up to three years to begin producing new growth. Unless a tree is in very
windy conditions, it is best not to stake the trunk.
MAINTENANCE: Note that nitrogen fertilizers that encourage green growth are not
recommended at planting time. After the first year, use the appropriate fertilizer such as Texas
Tee or Espoma’s Tree-tone for general use, or Espoma’s Holly-tone for acid loving plants. All new
trees and shrubs will require supplemental hand watering after planting for up to a year
especially in summer months. It is best to water plants early in the morning (around 6-7 am).
Apply an ample sized puddle around the root ball. Let the water absorb, and then repeat.
Consult our First Year Care for New Plantings handout for additional information.
Speak with a Garden Advisor for questions and additional help in successfully growing trees and shrubs.
Compliments of North Haven Gardens 7700 Northaven Road Dallas TX 75230 214 -363-5316 NHG.com