Tree Planting

[Roguegal]

Hello all,

I am new to the forum and hope to learn a lot. My first question is about planting tree's. I am getting ready to plant 2 scarlet red maples shade trees in my yard. One in the backyard and one in the front yard. I live in a mobile home court so I do not have a large area choose from in either yard. In fact, in my front yard the tree that is being replaced (this is what I was told) had tree cancer and had to be removed. I am in the process of removing the stump which was hollow in the center. I was hoping that maybe somebody here might be able to tell me if I can plant in the same spot that I remove the stump from? or if there is something special I need to do to that location.

[Green-Moo]

There are some trees which do not like to be planted in the same spot as a defunct tree of the same variety. Apple trees are an example, but I don't know about maples.

[SageMother]

You may need to contact a tree expert to figure out if you can plant in the same spot, and when. If the tree was diseased, then there may be little critters that took advantage of its weakened state and may attack a new tree while it is adjusting to a new location.

[mamabear05]

I don't know for sure, but if what happened to your old tree was described as "cancer", I would worry about putting a new tree in that same spot and having it be affected by the same disease. I don't think I would chance it.

[Roguegal]

Thanks for all the advice guys. I decided not to plant the tree in the same spot as the old stump. I am going to plant it approximately 4 feet away from that. I am making sure that there are no roots in the old tree in that area. I will let you know how the tree fairs.

[mtrent]

It is never wise to plant in the same soil as a plant that has been ill, whether it be in a pot or the ground. Plants can spread their illnesses to other plants just like people can, but a lot of time it is people who are inexperienced that innocently spread these illnesses.

I would advise treating the area before planting in that area. The best place to get advise would be from an area nursery, because this is what they do for a living and most of the time have more knowledge on the subject of how to treat the area and what to treat the area with.

[Roguegal]

Well, I have finally gotten the backyard tree planted. I am waiting for nursery to call me back with information about the front yard tree and whether or not I can plant it there. Cross your fingers that my trees will grow!

[riskey58]

Thank you for all the advice. So far I have had really good luck with the trees I have planted. But you never know when something could go wrong.

[mtrent]

I hope everything goes great for you.

[Roguegal]

I just have to remember to water them 2-3 times a week. In fact, I need to water the one that is already planted this evening. Here in Phoenix, you never water anything in the morning or afternoon. If you do, you boil them during the summer. So this evening I will get out and water my new tree.