Factors Affecting the Establishment of Urban Trees

A series of studies has been conducted to determine ways to improve growth of newly planted trees. Incorporating soil amendments at planting time and placing black plastic beneath mulches were found to be detrimental to newly planted trees. Mulches alone were beneficial, particularly when used to maintain a cleared area around newly planted trees and reduce the competitive effects of lawn grasses. Pruning back the tops of newly planted dormant, bareroot, deciduous trees was not beneficial.