I'm getting ready to plant 24 Thuja Green Giants that I bought from Home Depot. They're in 7-gallon buckets and around 5 feet tall. I'm planting them a few feet away from where some dead pine trees used to be, as I want to create a new privacy wall. I've read mixed reviews on whether or not to amend the soil, and if so, what to use. I know I'm supposed to dig a hole that's as deep as the current root ball and as wide as possible. But I've seen advice that suggests backfilling with native soil, while others recommend mixing it with peat moss, compost, or specific soil for trees and shrubs. So, what's the best approach?
3 Answers
When I planted mine, I used a mix of native soil and bagged soil at a 50/50 ratio, and topped it off with some mulch. One key thing I did was set up a drip irrigation system that I kept running for a couple of years. They shot up three feet in their first year, which I think helped a lot. It’s not super common advice, but it worked well for me!
It really depends on your soil type. Here, I've got this terrible clay, so I usually dig a hole that's about twice the width of the pot. Then I mix in some good soil and plant the Thuja slightly above ground level to avoid waterlogging. This method gives the roots some room to grow, making it easier for the plants to establish themselves in the first few years.