Does anyone know about planting trees on a hillside?

Question

My land slopes to the back (not very bad, but enough), does anyone know if I need to do anything special when planting trees?

Answer 1

you dont have to do anything special... just be sure that you prepare the hole adequately to the size of the root ball on the tree you are planting and be sure to plant it as straight up and down as possible regardless of the slope it's sitting on. use a little hand level and just make sure its fairly straight.

depending on the varities your planting, be sure to leave adequate spacing so you trees have room to grown.

Answer 2

One thing you should be aware of is this: You should build up the shallow depression a bit around the tree so that rainwater will collect there more easily. In other words, the little "dam" around the tree should be higher on the front side of the tree than the backside. Also use mulch.

A tree on a hill side generally adapts (root-wise) pretty quickly.

The main thing you have to worry about is water runoff. Also make sure the tree is also getting enough water when you are manually watering. You might have to check this more often than you would a tree planted on level ground. (Be careful of overwatering on clay soils, however.)

Answer 3

Im with loanman on this one...don't forget to support new trees with stakes in the ground so that deer, wind etc don't knock them down while they're young.

Answer 4

make this 'berm' dealie to help keep water available to the root ball of the tree instead of it all just running downhill and away....

http://www.taunton.com/finegardening/how-to/qa/hilly-predicament.aspx?nterms=74858

use some stone or brick or such thing to hold the 'berm' against erosion..... add mulch around the tree to help keep that soil in place, and keep the ground moister, too