Tree PlantingThe right tree, planted the right way.

Tree planting is choosing a tree that suits your site and planting it so it can establish: at the right depth, with its roots freed, mulched, and watered until it takes hold.

A new tree is a long-term investment. Choosing a species that suits the site, planting it at the right depth, and watering it well while its roots establish set it up for decades of growth.

Common requests

Shade trees for a new home
Replacing a tree that was removed
Trees and shrubs for birds and wildlife
Planting for a new commercial site or community

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Serving Jonesboro and Northeast Arkansas (NEA), Memphis, Little Rock, Bentonville, and surrounding areasISA Board Certified Master Arborist^®

The right tree, the right place

The Magnolia approach

How a tree should be planted.

Most new-tree problems start on planting day. We follow University of Arkansas Extension guidance, from checking the site to watering afterward.

Check the site

Sun, soil, drainage, and room to grow. Underground utilities are marked through 811 before anyone digs.

Choose the right tree

A species that fits the space at its mature size, stays well clear of power lines, and, if you like, feeds birds and pollinators.

Plant at the right depth

The root flare sits at or just above the finished grade. The hole is wide, not deep: one and a half to two times the root ball’s width, and wider in compacted soil.

Free the roots

Burlap and rope come off the top of the root ball, the top of any wire basket is cut away, and circling roots are sliced so new roots grow outward.

Mulch and water

A ring of mulch no more than 3 inches deep, kept off the trunk, and a watering plan: the most important step after planting, light and frequent at first, adjusted for rain and soil.

Young-tree care

Stakes only when they’re truly needed, and structural pruning in the early years for a strong framework.

Tree Care

Recommendations may be informed by AIM, our system of baselines, measurements, and records kept over time. How AIM works

Educational exampleTree planting

From open lawn to a yard that feels alive.

Drag to compare an open lawn with the same yard a few seasons after planting: Southern magnolias for evergreen shade, native shrubs with berries for birds, and a bed of flowers for butterflies and bees.

BeforeAn open lawn

AfterTrees, shrubs, and flowers, a few seasons later

Before: Open lawn: no shadeAfter: Southern magnolias: evergreen shade, big spring flowers
Before: Bare foundation: no food or cover for birdsAfter: Beautyberry and possumhaw: berries for birds
Before: Nothing in bloom for pollinatorsAfter: Pollinator bed: coneflower and milkweed

Drag the handle—or use arrow keys—to compare. Educational example, not a Magnolia project. Results vary by tree, site, condition, and management approach.

Before you plant

Right tree, right place.

A tree that fits its spot at full size needs far less work later. A little planning now saves a lot of pruning, and sometimes a removal, down the road.

Room to grow
University of Arkansas Extension advises never planting a tree that grows taller than 15 feet beneath power lines or within 15 feet of them, and ideally keeping trees as far from the lines as their mature spread. Allow for roots near foundations, walks, and drives, too.
Value that grows
Well-placed trees shade a home and are associated with higher home values. See the research.
Plant for wildlife
Native trees, shrubs, and flowers for birds and pollinators, chosen for your part of our service area.
Planting for Wildlife guide
Planting a whole site?
For new communities and commercial sites: every tree mapped and cared for from planting day to maturity.
New Development Tree Care

Planting guidance from University of Arkansas Extension, Planting a Tree or Shrub (FSA6128), and Fall Tree Care and Planting Tips.

How pricing works

Agreed in writing before work begins.

Every tree and every site is different, so we don’t post prices. We look at the trees, talk through what you want, and put the scope and price in writing. Work begins only after you’ve agreed to it.

01
We look and listen
Your trees, your site, and what you’d like to change.
02
A written scope and price
Which trees, what work, and what it costs.
03
Work begins when you agree
Nothing starts until the scope and price are settled.

We map your trees in ArborNote and email you a clear work order on every job. See how transparent tree care works

A little more clarity

Common questions.

Ask about your tree

When is the best time to plant a tree?

In Arkansas, fall is a great time to plant trees and shrubs. Planting in late fall, while trees are dormant, gives the roots time to grow before they have to supply new leaves. Other times can work with closer attention to watering.

How much water does a new tree need?

It depends on the tree’s size, the soil, and the weather. As one example from University of Arkansas Extension, a tree with a 2-inch trunk may need about 4 gallons over the root ball each time it’s watered, which in summer can mean several times a week. Too much water can harm a tree as surely as too little.

Should a new tree be fertilized when it’s planted?

Usually not. University of Arkansas Extension notes that fertilizer at planting hasn’t been shown to improve survival, and that amending the backfill isn’t needed except in very poor soil. A soil test is a better first step.

Can you plant for birds and wildlife?

Yes. Our Planting for Wildlife guide lists native trees, shrubs, and flowers for each part of our service area, with what each one offers wildlife.

Why not a Bradford pear?

University of Arkansas Extension considers Bradford (Callery) pear invasive in Arkansas: it spreads aggressively and crowds out native plants. Native flowering trees such as redbud, dogwood, and serviceberry are better choices.