Planting Oak Trees in the Fall
- 1). Plant oak trees in the early fall, at least six weeks before the first significant frost.
- 2). Plant in a site that has full sun exposure and in nutrient-rich soil that is either a sandy loam or a rich humus and is well-drained. Do not plant where there is persistent standing water.
- 3). Excavate a planting hole twice the diameter of the container or root ball and roughly as deep. Firm the soil at the bottom of the hole with a shovel or by standing on it to create a solid planting bed.
- 4). Lower the tree into the center of the hole carefully, keeping it vertical. Add soil underneath the root ball, if needed, to bring the top of the root mass level with the surrounding ground soil. The aim is for the tree to grow at the same soil depth as it was previously.
- 5). Mix the top and lower excavated soil. Fill in the hole around the root ball with the soil mixture. When the hole is three-quarters full, gently tamp down the soil with your hands or heels to ensure good root contact.
- 6). Fill hole to the lip with water. Allow it to percolate into the surrounding soil. When the water has dissipated, make sure the oak remains in a perfectly vertical position before back-filling with the remaining excavated soil.
- 7). Form a watering moat with the remaining excavated soil 2 to 3 feet wider than the planting hole. Firm the soil between your hands to make a 3-inch wall of soil all the way around. Fill the moat with water. Allow the water to percolate into the soil.
- 8). Fill the moat with a 2- to 3-inch thick blanket of organic mulch, such as shredded bark, when the water has drained away. This will keep weeds at bay and help to keep the soil moist.
- 9). Keep the watering moat in place for the first year after planting. Irrigate the oak frequently enough to keep the root mass very moist at all times until the tree is well established in the soil, which can be up to 1 year. When rainfall is plentiful, irrigation can be temporarily scaled back.