There’s nothing quite like planting a brand-new sapling and nurturing it into a mature tree. Once you’ve picked out your sapling at the garden center and put it into the ground, it’s going to require some special care to get a healthy start. Follow the tips below for a well-established, thriving tree.

Garden Center Guide for Growing Young Trees

1. Provide Plenty of Water

Young trees in a new location are under a lot of stress, and water will protect them from disease while promoting healthy growth. Use “deep watering” at first. In the first few days, fill the basin with 15 to 20 gallons of water each day. For the next three weeks, fill it with 5 to 10 gallons every day. For the remainder of the first year, fill it with 10 to 15 gallons every one to two weeks.

2. Mulch Your Tree

Mulching keeps out weeds that will steal nutrients from your young sapling. It will also control the temperature of the soil and lock in all the water that you supply the tree with. Lay a two- to four-inch layer of organic mulch around the tree — as far out as the branches grow. Leave a space of two inches all around the trunk to avoid attracting fungi, diseases, and pests.

3. Put Away the Shears

Young trees should not be pruned for at least the first year. These cuts can limit their growth potential for life. The cuts can leave the tree susceptible to pests and disease as well. At the end of the first year, talk with a landscaping professional from your local garden center about the best way to prune the tree.

Starting with a healthy sapling is key to a healthy tree. Glynn Young’s Landscaping & Nursery Center is the premier tree farm and garden center in Lexington, KY, with a vast selection of high-quality plants. Their experienced landscape designers will plant the new tree for you and provide the maintenance it needs, so you won’t need to lift a finger. Check out their website to learn more about their services. Contact the garden center at (859) 881-8111 to ask about their inventory and discuss creating your dream yard.