Practical advice on picking, planting, and caring for trees, backed by arborist knowledge and 20+ years of Northern California homeownership.
How far apart to plant trees, by mature canopy size. Real spacing numbers for distance from the house, sidewalk, utility lines, privacy hedges, and fruit tree rows.
How to mulch a tree the right way: how much mulch, how deep, how wide, and why mulch volcanoes piled against the trunk slowly kill the tree you planted.
A root bound tree from the nursery keeps circling and girdles itself within years. Here is how to spot and correct circling roots before you plant a tree.
How to prepare soil for planting a tree the right way. Why you should not amend the backfill, how to test drainage, dealing with clay, soil testing, and what to skip.
Transplant shock makes a newly planted tree wilt, scorch, and drop leaves. Learn the signs, how long it lasts, and how to help your stressed tree recover.
How to transplant an established tree and move it without killing it: trunk caliper limits, root pruning, dormant-season timing, and when to call a pro.
Which trees to buy and why
44 articlesWhere and how to plant
18 articlesKeep your trees healthy
51 articlesWhen and how to trim
11 articlesGarden projects with trees
12 articlesBrowse everything on the site
136 articlesThe trees worth planting, based on real experience.
Match your yard to the right species.
Get it right the first time.
When, how, and what not to cut.
11 reasons your yard needs them.
9 things to know before you dig.