A new tree is an investment in your landscape's future, and proper tree planting — species selection, placement, and method — sets the foundation for strong, healthy growth.
Great Western Tree Care provides professional tree planting services designed for the Denver metro area's challenging climate, alkaline clay soils, and elevation-specific growing conditions.
Serving Colorado's Front Range · (720) 535-8769
Great Western Tree Care provides professional tree planting services designed for the Denver metro area's challenging climate, alkaline clay soils, and elevation-specific growing conditions. Planting the right tree in the right location with proper technique determines whether a new tree thrives for decades or struggles from day one.
Too often, proper planting is overlooked. A tree's chance of success starts the day it is planted — if that process is done incorrectly, the tree will have no real chance for a healthy future.
Our ISA-Certified Arborists guide species selection based on your property's sun exposure, soil conditions, drainage patterns, and mature canopy goals, then handle site preparation, planting, staking, and post-planting care including establishment watering programs and root zone fertilization that give new trees the strongest possible start.
Denver's USDA Hardiness Zone 5b/6a, 14–18 inches of annual precipitation, alkaline clay soils, intense UV exposure at 5,280+ feet elevation, and extreme temperature swings eliminate many species that perform well elsewhere.
Late spring freezes, Chinook wind events, and dramatic temperature fluctuations put stress on trees that aren't matched to Front Range conditions.
Denver's clay soils require specific preparation before planting to avoid compaction, poor drainage, and nutrient lockout.
Intense sun and low humidity at elevation increase transplant stress and water demand during establishment.
Colorado's semi-arid climate makes supplemental watering essential during a new tree's critical first months and years.
Not every nursery-available tree species survives long-term along the Front Range. We recommend species with proven track records in the Denver metro area.
Bur oak tolerates alkaline clay soils and drought once established, developing a broad canopy for summer shade.
Hackberry is one of the toughest urban trees for Front Range conditions, tolerating poor soil, drought, wind, and temperature extremes.
Gambel oak provides multi-season interest with fall color and supports local wildlife. Kentucky coffeetree produces minimal litter and tolerates alkaline soils.
Ponderosa pine, Colorado's most common native pine below 9,000 feet, provides year-round screening, wind protection, and wildlife habitat.
Colorado blue spruce remains popular despite increasing cytospora canker and needle cast pressure; good air circulation and adequate root zone moisture help.
Douglas fir performs well on north-facing slopes and sites with afternoon shade protection from Colorado's intense western sun.
Serviceberry (Amelanchier) produces spring flowers and fall color in Denver's climate.
Flowering crabapple varieties selected for disease resistance provide spring bloom and wildlife value.
Japanese tree lilac offers late-spring flowering on a compact form suited to smaller residential lots.
Proper tree placement prevents conflicts with overhead utilities, underground infrastructure, foundations, and adjacent structures as the tree reaches mature size.
We assess sun exposure patterns throughout the day, prevailing wind direction, soil drainage through percolation testing, existing irrigation coverage, and proximity to hardscape.
For properties in HOA-managed communities, we ensure species selections and placement comply with community landscape guidelines.
Denver's clay soils require specific preparation before planting. We excavate planting holes 2–3 times the width of the root ball but no deeper than the root flare height, avoiding the common mistake of planting too deep.
For heavily compacted or poorly draining clay, we scarify the sides of the planting hole and incorporate organic amendments into the backfill.
When soil testing reveals extreme pH levels or nutrient deficiencies, we apply targeted amendments during planting and schedule follow-up fertilization.
Placement decisions account for mature canopy spread and height, keeping new trees clear of utilities, structures, and existing landscape features decades into the future.
Proper planting — and thoughtful follow-up care — can significantly reduce transplant shock, improve root development, and enhance long-term survival.
Dig a planting hole 2–3× the root ball's width, matching its depth, so roots can establish outward into native soil.
Keep the root collar visible at or just above grade. Planting too deep leads to root girdling and crown rot that may not become apparent for years.
Remove wire baskets, soil from root flares, and loosen circling roots to promote healthy outward root growth.
Water deeply at planting — typically 10 gallons per inch of trunk diameter — and apply mulch while keeping it off the trunk.
Plant during optimal seasons — fall or spring — when soil conditions support quick establishment without heat stress.
We visit your property, evaluate soil conditions through visual assessment and percolation testing, document sun exposure and drainage patterns, and discuss your goals for canopy coverage, screening, and shade.
We recommend specific species and cultivars matched to your property's conditions, with planting location recommendations, mature size projections, and expected growth timelines.
We personally choose quality stock at regional nurseries adapted to Colorado conditions, and schedule planting during optimal windows — spring (April–May) or fall (September–October).
Our crew excavates planting holes to proper dimensions, amends backfill as needed, sets root balls at the correct depth with the root flare exposed, installs staking where necessary, and applies initial mulch rings 3–4 inches deep.
We initiate watering programs for the first two growing seasons, monitor root establishment, check staking hardware, and schedule first-year pruning to establish proper structural form.
Avoid planting during peak summer heat (June–August), when transplant stress is highest.
Most trees require 2–3 growing seasons to establish a root system that extends beyond the original root ball into surrounding soil. Consistent deep watering is essential during this period.
We generally recommend waiting until the second growing season before applying nitrogen fertilizer. First-season energy should be directed toward root development rather than top growth.
Trunk wrapping from November through March prevents sunscald and frost cracking on thin-barked species. Winter watering during extended dry periods prevents root desiccation.
Tree planting costs depend on species, tree size, site conditions, and the number of trees being planted.
Our arborists understand tree biology, root development, species-specific soil requirements, growth rates, and mature canopy characteristics, ensuring every planting recommendation accounts for long-term success — not just nursery appearance.
Spring (mid-April through May) and fall (September through mid-October) provide the best planting windows in the Denver metro area. Fall planting allows root establishment during cool soil temperatures before winter dormancy. Spring planting works well when followed by consistent establishment watering through the first summer. Avoid planting during peak summer heat (June–August) when transplant stress is highest.
Drought-adapted species with proven Front Range performance include bur oak, Kentucky coffeetree, honeylocust, hackberry, and Gambel oak for shade. Ponderosa pine, Colorado blue spruce, and Douglas fir provide evergreen screening. Species selection should account for your specific property's soil pH, drainage, sun exposure, and elevation.
The root flare, where the trunk widens at the base, should be visible at or slightly above the surrounding soil grade after planting. This is one of the most common planting errors we correct: trees set too deep develop root girdling, crown rot, and decline that may not become apparent for several years.
Most trees require 2–3 growing seasons to establish a root system that extends beyond the original root ball into surrounding soil. During this period, consistent deep watering is essential; supplemental irrigation cannot be reduced to mature-tree levels until the root system has expanded sufficiently.
We generally recommend waiting until the second growing season before applying nitrogen fertilizer to newly planted trees. First-season energy should be directed toward root development rather than top growth. Soil amendments addressing pH or organic matter deficiency should be incorporated during planting.
Winter protection includes trunk wrapping with commercial tree wrap from November through March to prevent sunscald and frost cracking on thin-barked species. Maintaining adequate soil moisture through winter watering during extended dry periods prevents root desiccation. Mulch rings should be maintained at 3–4 inches deep but kept 6 inches away from the trunk.
Our tree planting crews serve residential properties throughout Douglas County, the Denver Metro, and surrounding Front Range communities from our Larkspur, Colorado headquarters.
Schedule a free on-site planting consultation with a Great Western Tree Care ISA-Certified Arborist.
Serving Colorado’s Front Range
