Tree planting, which would seem like a fairly straightforward subject, is actually quite complex. This is an area of urban arboriculture where a majority of the largest and most costly mistakes are made.

The two most common mistakes are the wrong tree and the wrong place for it. There are simply too many factors to consider when planting a tree in the city for it to be done effectively by a layperson.

Choosing a poor tree specimen from retail nursery tree stock is tremendously common. Most nurseries do not have an arborist on staff, so stock that an arborist knows to be poor regularly ends up at retail nurseries. This can lead to very costly maintenance and repairs that the homeowner might not become aware of until the tree is mature and it is too late. It may be that you spend 10 years growing a tree to maturity only to have it fail and need to be removed.

We recommend hiring an arborist to choose the tree from the nursery and plant it for you. We have a large stock of healthy tree stock handpicked by our arborists. The cost of a typical tree planting is outlined below. The price of the tree will vary depending on the size and variety chosen.

If you are thinking of having a tree planted by our company please think ahead. Our planting season runs from Mid Oct to Mid March and frequently sells out months ahead of time. Because all of our trees are picked by arborists we are unable to hire more highly skilled in demand arborist to meet seasonal increases in demand such as planting season so we just do our best to plant all we can with the trained workers we have on staff.

Unfortunately, due to high demand this service is no longer offered as a stand-alone service and you must be a current or past customer to order any of our planting services.

Frequently Asked Questions About Tree Planting

What tree would be best to plant in my yard? We highly recommend that you call an arborist to help you make a decision about what tree to plant and where. The average life span of a tree in Portland is approx. 10 years. That is often caused by the wrong tree being planted in the wrong location. The increased cost to have the tree purchased and planted through an arborist is minimal, but the rewards are great. If you are going to do your own planting make sure you do your research on the tree species and variety you will be using. You should estimate the future height of the tree at the top of the range because of the favorable growing environment in Oregon. Also, take into account the maintenance required to care for the tree. Some trees are higher maintenance than other trees. If you are planting a street tree check with your city for an approved street tree list.

I am planting a tree what should I be concerned about? You will likely need compost to create a 50/50 mix with your own soil around the planting site. Remove any pots or packaging around the tree, biodegradable or not, remove it. Break up the edge of the root ball loosening the root ends from the root ball. Plant the top of the root ball just underneath the soil (1/2" max). Thoroughly water the tree after planting and water regularly during the summer and during dry patches for the first 2 years.