In South Africa, we celebrate Arbour Week in the first week of September, coinciding with the start of spring. After a season of dormancy in your garden, you’re probably itching to plant or grow something new, and with spring being one of best times of year to plant trees in South Africa, Arbour Week gives you the perfect excuse to do just that.

In this guide, we walk you through the basics of how to plant a tree, with tips to ensure you give it the TLC it needs to thrive – from watering and staking, to mulching and other aftercare steps to take.

Ready to explore, step by step, how to plant a tree in South Africa? You’re in the right place.

How to choose the right tree for your garden

Carefully selecting a tree for your garden is one of the most important steps of tree planting in South Africa. There are a few reasons for this:

Size matters

If you have a smallish garden, a tree that grows to a mature height of 10 metre is probably not the best choice. Ask a horticulturist at one of our garden centres to guide you on how big you can expect a tree to grow before buying it.

Roots and all

Consider the type of soil in your garden, as this will determine which types of tree are likely to thrive and quickly develop roots there. The three main types of soil common in South African gardens are sandy, clay and loam soils.

• For a garden with sandy soil, trees whose root systems need good drainage and aeration, and don’t demand high nutrient content are best suited.

• If your garden has clay soil, it can support trees whose roots need soil with good water retention and minimal aeration.
  
• Gardens with loam soil (the ideal balance) retain more water than those with sandy soil, without becoming water-logged. This type of soil is rich in nutrients, ideal for trees that especially need this.

If you want to plant your tree next to a wall or paving, it’s best to choose a tree with a non-invasive root system.

For households with little ones, you may want to avoid a tree with thorns. With that said, thorns can be an advantage if used as an extra security provision if the tree is planted next to a boundary wall.

Read this guide for some easy-to-grow tree options for beginners.

Soil prep for clay vs sandy soils

This is an important consideration, as it determines whether you need to use compost, bonemeal and mulch when planting trees.

Because clay soil is made up of fine particles that compact easily, it’s important to work in some organic matter like compost to improve the soil’s aeration so that your tree’s roots can grow freely and access the moisture and nutrients they need to establish themselves.

On the other hand, sandy soil has good drainage, but also comes with the downside of poor nutrient retention. Incorporating organic matter like compost will act like a sponge in the soil, increasing its ability to retain moisture and nutrients.

How big should the planting hole be?

Dig a shallow, wide planting hole (three times wider than deep).

Up to 80% of a tree’s roots spread out in the top metre of soil. Most of the tree’s roots are shallow and they need good aeration and water. If they are trapped too far down, they can suffocate.

Another danger of planting a tree in a hole that is too deep is that the bark gets covered with the moist soil and it, too, can suffocate and rot.

Step-by-step how to plant a tree in South Africa

Follow these steps once the planting hole has been prepared:

Step 1: Handle the tree with care. Pick it up by the base, and not the trunk. The trunk flare (the base of the tree where the roots spread out) should be visible after the tree has been placed in the hole.

Step 2: Before placing the tree root ball in the centre of the planting hole, gently loosen the roots. Trees in containers often become ‘root-bound’, with roots circling the inside of the pot. If planted this way, the roots will continue to grow in a circle and eventually ‘girdle’ the trunk, choking off the flow of water and nutrients.

Once you have placed the loosened root ball in the planting hole, fill the hole with the ‘native soil’ that you dug out (with some organic matter incorporated into it, if necessary). Take care not to let air pockets form. To prevent air pockets, add a third of the soil, water well, allow the water to drain and add another layer, continuing until the soil is finished.

Steps 3: Stake the tree on both sides, if necessary.

Step 4: Place mulch around the tree, but keep the mulch at least 3 centimetres from the bark of the tree.

How much water does a new tree need?

Most expertise suggest watering your tree once a week to help it settle into its new home and flourish.

Ready to pick a tree perfect for your garden?

With this guide, you have the basics in place to plant a tree and bring hours of joy to your time in the garden. Remember that you always have expert help on hand with our expert consultants in-store. Browse our selection of trees online* (*Western Cape only), or check out our range in-store.

For help planting your tree, why not try our consultants-on-call service? Ensure the best choice of tree for your garden, and expert guidance for the best results by booking a session.