Tree planting

Planting too deep can cause a poor start. The first flare of roots should finish at soil level, with the bare trunk above the ground. The planting area needs room for roots to spread into loosened soil. A deep pocket of soft material under the rootball can settle later and take the tree down with it, so the finished level is checked before backfilling.

A stake is support, not a permanent part of the tree. Small trees may not need one. Where support is useful, the method depends on the tree, rootball and exposure. The tie should hold the root area steady without rubbing or tightening around the trunk, and it needs checking as the tree grows. Mulch can help the soil retain moisture, but it should lie over the soil rather than being heaped against the bark.

The quote states whether Woodside is supplying the tree and whether staking, a guard, mulch or an initial watering is included. Clean-up is included in every job. Soil, pots, wrapping and other material are handled as agreed for that site, so there is no assumption hidden behind the price. Woodside Forestry Ltd is established 2008 and carries £10 million public liability insurance.

The route may include steps, a narrow side gate, a shared passage or a turn beside an extension. That affects the size of planting stock that can reach the garden and how excavated soil can be moved.

Digging means buried services must be considered. HSE guidance says plans or suitable information about buried services should be checked before excavation and that plans show only an indication of their position. Tell us about known electric, gas, water, drainage, telecoms and garden supplies. If there is doubt, the excavation must wait until the risk has been dealt with properly.

Planting on land you do not own requires the landowner's agreement. Replacement planting may also be controlled by a planning decision, protected-tree consent or tree replacement notice. Those documents can specify the number, size, type, position or planting period. Send the full decision and plan rather than relying on a summary. The council decides whether its condition has been met. Woodside carries out planting, but does not provide surveys or consultancy reports.

• A clear route from the delivery point to the planting position
• Known buried or overhead services near the work area
• Any landowner approval, council decision or replacement condition
• The supplied tree size and root system, if already ordered

Autumn to early spring is usually the straightforward planting period, provided the ground is not frozen or waterlogged. Bare-root and rootballed trees are normally supplied while dormant. Container-grown trees can be planted at other times, but a spring or summer planting can need much closer attention to water. Hot, dry ground is a poor time to install a tree and then leave it unattended.

Water has to reach the rootball and surrounding soil. A wet-looking surface does not prove that the roots have enough moisture, and constant saturation can also cause problems. The person responsible for aftercare should check below the surface and respond to weather and soil conditions. Grass and weeds around the base compete for water, so the agreed clear or mulched area needs to be maintained.

Ties should be inspected and loosened before they constrict the stem. Stakes should come out once the tree has anchored, rather than being left until they rot or rub the bark. The quote records any aftercare Woodside has specifically agreed. Unless it says otherwise, ongoing watering, tie checks, guards and replacement are the customer's responsibility. No planting contractor can guarantee establishment when later watering, weather, damage and site conditions are outside the agreed work.

If you already have the tree, keep its roots protected and follow the supplier's storage instructions until the planting date.