Introduction

The trees most likely to fail are the ones that weren’t planned right to begin with. Poor placement, rushed installation, or overlooked soil conditions can create problems that don’t show up until it’s too late to fix them. Healthy trees start with decisions made before the first shovel hits the ground.

With a professional on your side who can help you make better planting choices, you can lay the groundwork for your trees to thrive.

How Does a Professional Tree Planting Service Start?

A professional tree planting service starts with a site assessment. If you don’t know your site, you risk choosing the wrong tree for the conditions and setting it up for failure. An aerial view can help, but professionals will typically just test the soil, check for grade issues, and study how water moves.

Here are a few other key factors professionals will examine:

• Wind exposure: Determines structural support needs and influences species selection
• Proximity to buildings or pavement: Prevents root interference and structural conflicts
• Underground utilities: Ensures safe digging and avoids long-term infrastructure issues
• Drainage patterns: Identifies areas prone to root rot or water stress
• Future space availability: Plans for mature canopy spread and root zone growth

Equally important is understanding your goals. Are you planting for shade, privacy, curb appeal, or long-term canopy coverage? Your intentions help guide species selection and spacing, aligning the planting plan with both the environment and how you want the space to evolve.

Why Tree Placement Is Critical

Tree placement is one of the most important decisions in the entire planting process. The wrong location can lead to stunted growth or poor canopy development, which makes structural failure a real possibility.

Placement also affects the relationship between the tree and its surroundings. Roots can lift pavement, branches can crowd utility lines, and shade can limit what grows nearby. Choosing the right spot means fewer conflicts and less corrective work in the future.

For example, a small ornamental tree might work beautifully near a patio or entrance, while a larger shade tree belongs farther from the house where its roots and canopy can expand freely. Putting a fast-growing hardwood too close to a driveway is a classic mistake that often ends in removal.

How Soil Type Influences Root Development

Soil type refers to the makeup and structure of the ground where a tree will take root. It determines how well water drains, how much air reaches the roots, and how easily roots can spread through the soil.

Ideally, trees thrive in well-draining loam with a mix of sand, silt, and clay. Loam is loose enough to allow roots to move and absorb oxygen but firm enough to anchor the tree and retain moisture.

Here are a few other soil types and how they can affect root development:

• Clay: Holds water for long periods, which can suffocate roots and lead to rot.
• Sandy: Drains quickly but lacks nutrients and moisture retention, leading to dry, weak roots.
• Silty: Rich in nutrients but prone to compaction, which can limit oxygen and root penetration.
• Rocky: Restricts root spread and can cause uneven growth or anchoring issues.

Issues Improper Tree Planting Can Cause

Improper tree planting can lead to many short-term and long-term issues. It often depends on how egregious the mistake is, but even small errors can put stress on a young tree. Some are worse than others in the sense that they can’t be corrected once the tree matures, but all reduce the chances of growing into a stable, healthy presence on your landscape.

One common consequence is poor anchoring. Trees planted too shallow or without stable root zones may lean, shift, or uproot entirely in storms. This becomes more likely as the tree gains height and weight without a strong foundation. In some cases, early correction is possible with staking or replanting, but the window to intervene is limited.

Another major issue is girdling roots. This happens when roots are forced to grow in tight circles due to small planting holes or compacted soil, eventually strangling the trunk from below. It can take years to notice, but by then, it’s often too late to correct.

Can Tree Disease Be Caused by Poor Planting?

Tree disease is often seen as something unpredictable or even inevitable, but poor planting can directly create the conditions that invite it. Stress caused by improper depth, compacted soil, or poor drainage weakens a tree’s natural defenses and makes it more vulnerable to pathogens early on.

For example, root rot thrives in overly wet soil, which is often the result of planting too deep or in a spot with poor drainage. Fungal infections like Armillaria can take hold when roots are damaged or suffocated, slowly killing the tree from underground without much warning.

Disease isn’t bad luck. In most cases, it can be avoided with the right technique. A healthy start reduces the chance of infection and gives the tree the strength it needs to resist disease over the long term.

Does Tree Selection Affect Future Growth and Safety?

Tree selection goes back to the site assessment, as the trees you choose need to match the conditions they’ll grow in. A mismatch can set even a healthy tree on a path toward long-term issues.

Each species has traits that shape how and where it should be used. For example, planting a laurel oak in a small yard near pavement would lead to root interference and potential damage as it matures. Professionals have the knowledge to choose and recommend species that suit the site’s specific conditions and your long-term goals.

For example, in Florida, some species that can thrive include:

• Live oak: Strong structure, broad canopy, and high wind resistance
• Bald cypress: Adaptable to wet conditions and tolerant of seasonal flooding
• Southern magnolia: Evergreen with large blooms, ideal for visual impact and shade
• Crape myrtle: Compact, colorful, and well-suited to urban or confined spaces
• Sabal palmetto: Florida’s state tree, drought-tolerant and low-maintenance

When Is the Best Time of Year To Plant Trees?

Timing is another key variable in the “successful growth” equation. Planting during the right season gives roots a chance to establish before they’re exposed to extremes in temperature, drought, or heavy winds.

In Florida, fall is typically the most favorable time to plant. Cooler weather reduces stress on the tree, while residual soil warmth and seasonal rainfall support steady root growth. Professionals weigh these conditions alongside species requirements and site characteristics to determine the best schedule.

Is Tree Maintenance Included After Planting?

The right planting can greatly enhance early root development and long-term stability, but consistent tree maintenance is still needed to help the tree adjust. Newly planted trees are vulnerable, and without follow-up attention, even the best planting can become undone.

Your tree service company can provide inspections, but they won’t be on hand to spot every issue as it happens. This means you’ll be responsible for monitoring the tree through its critical establishment period. What happens in the weeks and months after planting often determines whether the tree truly takes hold.

What’s the Right Tree Watering Schedule?

Your watering schedule needs to consider soil type, tree species, weather conditions, and how recently the tree was planted. Professionals will look at all of these to set a routine that supports root development without encouraging disease or shallow growth.

For example, a newly planted tree in sandy soil during a dry season may need frequent, deep watering at first, while a tree in loamy soil with occasional rain might only need supplemental watering every few days. Timing and depth are just as important as frequency.

Tree Pruning Requirements

Pruning is an essential part of guiding a tree’s growth after planting or transplanting. It shapes the structure of new growth, removes weak or competing limbs, and helps prevent problems before they develop. Without proper tree pruning, a young tree can grow unevenly or become prone to breakage.

Once again, professionals assess what each tree needs based on its species, age, and condition at the time of planting. Some trees may need light structural pruning within the first year, while others require very little until they’re more established.

The timing and method depend entirely on how the tree responds to its new environment. An expert will be able to recognize how the tree is recovering and adjust the pruning approach accordingly. Between visits, you can watch for excessive canopy depth, irregular growth, damaged branches, and growth too close to power lines or your roof.

Book Expert Tree Planting Services Now

Having trees installed is a long-term investment in your landscape, but if you want to set them up the right way, good intentions aren’t enough. You need experience, strategy, and a team that understands how every choice affects future growth. Art's Tree Service brings all of that to every tree we plant.

Call (941) 877-1317 to book tree planting services now!