Maintaining Wild Tip: Buying trees
by Besa Schweitzer, chapter member
When buying a tree, it is ok to buy the small size. If a tree is grown in a pot for 3 years, it will not be as happy as the tree that was planted in the ground 3 years ago.
Trees need space for their roots and as soon as they start their life in the ground as possible, the healthier they will be in the long run. Remember, with trees, it is always about the long run.
The same goes with flowers, go ahead and buy the small size. In 3 years, there will be no difference between the plant that was planted as a gallon or as a plug.
The only reason to buy larger plants is if it is being planted into an established planting and may be smothered otherwise.
About our new Maintaining Wild series:
To help you keep up with your native garden care in 2026 we’re posting a maintenance tip each week on our website and on Facebook. These tips will include native garden specific tasks as well as some basic gardening advice.
A new tip will appear weekly on Facebook, on Friday at 1 pm.
To join the discussion, comment on our Facebook page.
Stay tuned for a new garden maintenance tip each week to help get you out into the garden and make 2026 a year for Maintaining Wild. Let’s have a discussion and share our knowledge!
View all tips on a single page: https://stlwildones.org/maintaining-wild-tips/
