Planting a tree in centre of lawn! [Merged]

Dustyevsky

Farway said:

Emmia said:

twopenny said:

I'd dig your hole, square is trendy and sipposed to work better. If so why did none of the old estate workers find this? They planted enough trees    

I tease out the roots if it's been in a pot. Just a little otherwise they continue going round and not out.
Mix a little bonemeal in the soil taken out and shovel back in.
Step on the lose soil to harden it.
Water in throughly to ensure soil has gone into all roots and no air pockets

Always add a stake and secure tree too it. Use something soft between bark and tie.

Mine is still staked yrs on and I'm so glad as while it's in full leaf during these gales it's keeping it safely in the soil.

On Gardeners World a couple of weeks ago there was a no stake, tree staking form of planting and strengthening trees (birch in the case of the demo) - I'm sure it's probably available on iPlayer.

Fads, fashions & ideas change all the time as research extends [and the cynical may say research money is spent]

Look at staking, once was a good stout upright post, now 45 degree into the wind, next week something else.

Was adding compost to the hole, now let the blighter starve and grow roots to find food

You can still use Dusty's tights, though.

Not while I'm wearing them, though! Next best thing to thermal underwear.

Blackjack_Davy

You don't need stakes - until they  blow over! Which container grown trees are likely to do in strong winds when in leaf and and when they've only been planted in the last year or two. Modern thinking is stake low down so the top can sway but still can't blow over that strengthens up the lower trunk roots etc. Tease out the roots of container grown plants if they're wrapped around the pot but leave the compost intact. 

If you want a perfect circle take a couple of bamboo canes push one in the spot you want to plant tie a string to it and tie the other end to the other cane the length of the radius of the circle, pull it taught and walk around in a circle scratching the ground. You now have a perfect circle. Lift off the turf, fork over the soil underneath which will be compacted remove the worst of the stones and any builders rubble get a bag of tree planting compost or any compost really mix in with the soil dig out a hole larger than the plant. 

In the excavated soil mix in more compost use to backfill the hole and firm with your foot. Knock in an stake if you havn't already and secure. Water! Even if its been damp it helps consolidate the soil into contact with the rootball. in the first summer water copiously and keep an eye on it during the second.

MeteredOut

What shape is your lawn?

Measuring tape? And a bit of string attached to a stick inserted into the ground where the tree will be placed, for validation purposes.

I assume you've chosen a tree that won't have roots that will affect your lawn as years go by?

-taff

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/6521435/best-way-to-plant-a-tree-in-the-middle-of-lawn/p1

baser999

Think OP was more asking how to ensure it was dead centre rather than the actual planting?  Take lines diagonally from the opposing corners (of the lawn or edges of the plot?) and where the lines cross should be your centre. 

Slinky

Our neighbour had a massive bean tree and for some reason the bees seemed to get confused or stuck in them in some way. We often had loads of dead bees on our lawn in the area of the overhanging branches.

Farway

Slinky said:

Our neighbour had a massive bean tree and for some reason the bees seemed to get confused or stuck in them in some way. We often had loads of dead bees on our lawn in the area of the overhanging branches.

I think the sap / pollen makes them drunk, maybe it ferments?

Dustyevsky

Good way to go though!

Surely this thread belongs in Marriage & Relationships Forum?