The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is now. So what are you waiting for? If you need some shade for your home or garden or just want to get started on your fruit forest, winter planting is ideal for many trees. While trees are dormant and the weather is cool, there is less transplant shock and trees get a head start on growing a sturdy root system to be ready for great spring growth. Below are some of our best planting tips for trees and shrubs.

Choose the Right Location – Most trees want a sunny, well-drained area, so make sure you find a bright spot in your yard that drains well, even after a heavy thunderstorm. If you have a wet area, consider a red maple, river birch, or weeping willow.

Use Good Soil – Florida soil is notoriously poor, and while eventually trees will adapt, they establish more quickly with rich soil added to the planting hole. We recommend a 50%-50% mix of native soil with new soil, and our favorite for trees is Black Gold® Natural & Organic Ultra Outdoor Planting Mix. It is formulated to release its organic matter slowly, which benefits trees and shrubs that grow more slowly than plants like flowers and vegetables.

Stimulate the Roots – The most important thing for new trees is to establish a strong root system. To really boost initial root growth, use Espoma’s Bio-tone Starter Plus in the planting hole at planting time. It contains a fertilizer blend that encourages growth and rooting, but, more importantly, it contains mycorrhizal fungi which colonize the roots and help plants take up nutrients from the soil.

Stake the Tree – Most trees benefit from staking for the first year. Staking is important, not to keep the trunk straight but to keep the new tree from falling over and damaging the new roots that it is trying to grow. For most trees, a single stake driven through the root ball and attached to the trunk with a flexible tie-tape is sufficient.

Water, Water, Water – All plants need consistent initial watering. For trees, make sure you are watering them deeply. Shallow, frequent waterings encourage shallow root systems. Those are the kind of root systems that damage sidewalks and driveways. Water deeply at each watering to get water all the way through the root ball and beyond the roots. This encourages roots to grow downward. A deep, strong root system creates a strong, healthy tree. Our general watering instructions are to water daily for the first month, every other day for the second month, and twice weekly for the third month, with weekly deep soakings as needed after that.

Now pick a beautiful day and have a picnic; after all, the garden isn’t just for work, it’s for relaxing, too.