Replacing and Replanting: A Guide To What To Plant After Tree Removal

Tree service professionals of Vancouver, British Columbia, share tips for planting after having a tree removed.

What Should You Plant Where Your Tree Once Stood

Trees are the longest-lived things on the planet, but even they do eventually die and need to be removed. Obviously, in the wild, trees rot and fall, returning to the soil, but within the confines of an organized community, a dead or dying tree can cause a host of other problems for homeowners and their neighbors. A tree that has been taken down leaves a gaping hole, quite literally, in the landscape, and aesthetics can be ruined. What can be done about this problem? 

Let a tree service company do the leg work and find the right tree to replace the one that has been lost. This article will share advice on what to plant and what steps to take to care for the tree.

What To Plant and When To Plant It

It can be nearly a year before the soil has fully recovered from the tree removal and stump grinding that takes place to completely clear out a tree. Adding soil and mulch can help the soil become nutrient-rich and vital again, but it does take time, and homeowners need to be prepared to wait. Planting too soon can lead to the slow death of the new plants and will not provide optimal or expected results.

So, the time must be right for planting. This is usually done right before the rapid growing season that the spring and summer bring. It is good to get whatever sapling you are planting well-established before the weather starts to cool.

As far as what to plant, the list is long but can be narrowed significantly by discussing categories. The biggest category to be aware of is native growth. Using native plants is becoming an increasingly common refrain among arborists and plant nurseries as we become more aware of the dangers that invasive species cause.

Some of the trees and plants that would do well replacing a tree are:

  • Firs
  • Cedars
  • Western Dogwoods
  • Flowering bushes
  • Fruit trees
  • Grasses
  • Ground cover like ivy

Tree Care for Optimal Growth

Once the tree is planted, the real tree health care begins. Sometimes, young trees do not adapt well to a new environment. This may be due to the plant going into shock and not being able to recover. When a tree is establishing its growth (usually the first two years), it needs extra care. There are some examples in the list below.

  • Provide Water: Watering a tree regularly is vital for the first part of its growth cycle. After the first couple of years, it will not need as much direct watering.
  • Mulch: Organic mulch provides a barrier against temperature extremes while also nourishing the soil as it decomposes. It also inhibits moisture evaporation.
  • Tree Trimming:  This is cutting of branches done primarily for aesthetic and practical reasons, such as trimming branches back from electrical and telephone lines. Too much trimming can do damage and should always be done by a trained professional.
  • Tree Pruning: This cutting is done for a tree’s health and to encourage it to grow well. This is often done with fruit trees to produce more and better fruit.
  • Fertilizer: This is often a later step as some fertilizers can damage the root system, but it can be used at the appropriate time for the best growth and healthiest plants and trees.

Consult With An Arborist

The best way to ensure that your trees’ needs are met is to call in a certified arborist. They are all about tree risk assessment and preventing and treating tree disease. Plant health care is more important to them than tree removal, so they will provide the best services to keep your trees healthy and whole.

About VI Tree Service

With over 50 years of combined experience in tree care, the people of VI Tree Service provide a full range of arboricultural services in and around Vancouver, BC. Call today for a 24-hour emergency response.