Make sure you find out what type of conditions your tree will tolerate. Some trees tolerate low areas where water stands after a rain, most do not. Some general rules of thumb to keep in mind: trees will grow toward areas of open sky, so if planting near a shaded area, the tree may naturally lean out toward the open area. This will depend on the type of tree you want to plant and the proximity of the selected location to neighboring trees, structures, pavement, etc. It's a toll-free call, and is required by law before digging anywhere.Īfter you've located all overhead and underground utilities, make sure there is adequate space for the canopy to develop and underground space for the root system. To locate underground utilities call 8-1-1, the Palmetto Utility Protection Service. The second step: find out if there is anything buried underground - electric lines, cable TV, telephone, gas, water, sewer, septic fields, and drainage lines are all possibilities. This is such a simple but often overlooked key to long term success. If there are wires overhead, choose a different location or make absolutely sure the tree you're planting is a low-growing tree. These characteristics make it absolutely critical for us to choose the best location for the tree we are planting - because mistakes can be costly. Also, their roots spread much further than we think. Trees invariably surprise us by growing bigger than we imagined they would. It's time to wrap up tree planting when temperatures warm up, days lengthen, and blooms and leaves appear.

Since winter is the 'rainy season', this helps settle the soil around newly planted trees, and soil moisture favors root growth while the canopy is at rest. This is the period when the aboveground parts of trees are at rest, but the below-ground parts are still active. The ideal time for planting trees in South Carolina is the dormant season - from late autumn after the leaves have fallen until early spring, just before the buds break and new leaves begin to form. Prevent Utility Outages by Trimming Your Trees.

Trees leaf guide of south carolina