How to plant plant trees in clay soil

Late winter of 2019, I learned how to plant a dogwood tree in clay soil and many more other species of trees. I am offering you the long or short version of that experience.

How planting trees changed my perspective for the future

If you are about my age and lived in the Montreal area when you were young, you probably know this movie title: L’homme qui plantait des arbres, ‘The Man Who Planted Trees’

I remember being  pretty impressed by the simplicity of the animated movie that told the story of this shepherd’s successful single handed effort to re-forest a desolate valley in the foothills of the French Alps, throughout the first half of the 20th century. An inspiration for ecological regeneration brought about by one man that changes a whole community. At that moment, It planted a seed in my heart and I knew one day I could try to do something similar.

As you all know, couple years ago, we had a pandemic, during that period there was more bad news about global warming and all kind of reflections that we were not ready to hear. The long winter made me think hard about what we can do to show our love to the earth and to give hope to our children. I needed a good idea to all the disastrous situation we were living, a quick fix. I start researching. For a start, I discover charities where you could buy trees and they would plant them around the world like Arborday in US, Tree Sisters in UK, Collectif Canopee in Canada to name a few. It was easy, but almost to simple. I needed a better solution with best results. This is when I found out about Diana…

Diana Beresford-Kroeger

Diana is a world recognized best selling author, with a PHD in both medical biochemistry and botany and a Doctor of Laws for her work in Forest Medicine.  She possesses a unique combination of western scientific knowledge and ancient Irish wisdom of the natural world. She is known for her extraordinary ability to bring a simple understanding and appreciation of scientific complexities to the general public.

I read all her books. Diana’s plan consists of encouraging ordinary people to develop a new relationship with nature, to join together to replant the global forest.

How to participate to reverse the effect of climate change

• Everyone needs to plant one native tree per year for the next six years.
• If we can globally plant 48 Billion Trees over the next 6 years Diana promised we can reverse the effects of Climate Change.

What are we waiting for?  It is the perfect time to start digging! When I started, I wasn’t sure I could fit 6 trees on my suburb yard. Also, my native soil is 75% heavy clay soil. But I am doing it. Every year, I am planting these little saplings, that seriously just looks like stick in the mud. It’s been 4 years and I planted more then 40 trees so far. I planted mostly the seedlings from Arbor Day but I also planted acorns that I found in my walk and more mature trees that I bought from one of our local garden centers.

My first trees did not all survive. The growing conditions and the fertility of soil can be tricky, but I kept going. It is rewarding to get your tree in the ground in late autumn and see it grows in the spring after all the snow is melted. Those young trees are resilient , there is hope in a great future for our kids after all. 

Where do you find the saplings?

Like I said before,  I discover the Arbor Day organization and it is a powerful organization. I became a member and the automatically sent me 10 young saplings (baby trees) every year. In a packet you can have a white dogwood tree, an American redbud, a red oak and so much more.  I was surprised about the generosity of this organization.  Because of them I became interested in the process of taking care of these saplings. I researched thousands of pages and watch so much video about the best care for all of them and I am proud of what I learned.

You can be a critical part of the Global Forest Revival by planting and caring for native trees where you live. I heard once, that the best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The second best is now. So let’s all do it now!

Planting the native dogwoods tree (Cornus Kousa)

How to plant a dogwood tree in clay soil is not more important than others but there is a lot of attention to it because it is a very nice flowering tree and also because of a poem saying that the cross of Jesus would have been made out of a dogwood tree. The dogwood tree would be cursed to stay smaller and would be blessed by beautiful flower in the spring. I planted one white dogwood tree and it is beautiful. The picture shows how it looks around 1 year after I planted it. If you are interested by the dogwood, continue reading, I found some more info.

Pink or white dogwoods are  a native ornamental trees from North America.  Flowering dogwood is a small deciduous tree and it is not tolerant of stresses such as summer heat, drought, pollution, or salt. These stresses make flowering dogwood more susceptible to disease, pests, and other problems. Source: Plants USDA Gov

The flowering dogwood is intolerant of extended drought periods, especially during the first year after planting. Daily watering is necessary for the first few weeks following planting. After one month, watering should be reduced to two times per week and continue for one year. Establishment takes 6 to 12 months. Larger trees benefit having a wet soil during the second year. I planted mine by the ditch so he can drink by himself.

What is the best time to plant your dogwood tree?

Spring or autumn seasons are a better time to acclimate your new tree. I usually receive my saplings from Arbor day  in late fall or beginning of winter. My ground doest really freeze in the winter (we’re zone 6a). I had a lot of success with fall planting.  It all depends what kind of climate you have. 

How to plant your beautiful tree?

Find a full sun (or part shade) place where to dig your hole. 

1. Dig a hole, the bottom of the planting hole should be the same size of your root ball.
2. The maximum size of the width should be twice the size of your pot or root ball.
3. Verify that there is good soil drainage
4. Prepare your Soil . Add organic matter such as compost, farm manure, or shredded leaves to clayed soil will give you a well-drained soil.
5. Plant your new tree. slightly above existing ground level.
6. Back Fill. the hole adding organic materials.
7. Give your tree a good drink

Planting a dogwood tree as a medicinal tree

You can use the inner bark, the twigs and the berries ( in late summer) of your dogwood. The medicinal properties are astringent, febrifuge, stimulant and tonic. Twigs are used as chewing sticks, like toothpicks. Use only dry bark because fresh one upset the digestive system. (Dried dogwood bark is best used as an ointment for fever, pneumonia, colds and similar complaints. You can use a poultice onto external ulcer and sores. )

Infusion: steep 1 tbsp of dried bark in one pint of water for 30 minutes and strain. Take 1/2 cup every 3 hours. 

Tincture: take 20-40 drops in water as needed
Source: Medicinal Herb Info

Are dogwood tree berries poisonous?

The dogwood berries by themselves are not considered poisonous but they are not good to ingest, they can cause some gastrointestinal distress if consumed in excess. For this reason, it’s best to keep pets and children from eating dogwood berries.

Planting Instructions for your dogwood tree or any other tree from arborday.org

SHOP THE POST

This post contains affiliate links for your shopping convenience. See my full disclosure HERE.