Tree planting
Tree planting in Longview & East Texas
The right tree for the spot, planted at the right depth in East Texas clay, with a watering plan that gets it through the first year. Quoted after a free walkthrough.
- 5.0 on Google from 143 reviews
- Free written estimate within a day
- Same crew every visit, never subcontracted
Who does tree planting in Longview, TX?
Yard Dog Landscapes is a family-owned crew in Longview, TX, founded in 2017 and rated 5.0 stars across 143 Google reviews. We help you pick a tree that fits the soil, the sun and the mature size of the spot, then plant it with the root flare at grade, a wide and shallow hole, a mulch ring and a watering plan. Cost depends on the species, size and number of trees and on site access, so we quote after a free walkthrough. Send a quote request and we'll get back to you within a day.
What we do
Planting too deep is the most common way we see a new tree killed in East Texas, and it takes two or three years to finish the job, so nobody traces it back to planting day. We set the root flare, where the trunk widens into its first roots, at grade or an inch above. On container trees that flare is often buried a few inches under the potting soil, so we measure to the flare, not the top of the pot.
The hole is two to three times the width of the root ball and no deeper than the ball is tall, because roots here run sideways. Native soil goes back in, since a pocket of bagged soil in clay holds water like a bathtub. We cut circling roots, build a watering basin, lay a mulch ring pulled back off the trunk, and stake only on windy, exposed sites. Stock comes from regional growers.
- Tree selection for your soil, sun and space
- Site assessment and placement planning
- Hand-dug, wide planting holes at the right depth
- Native soil backfill and circling roots cut
- Watering basin and mulch ring
- Staking on windy, exposed sites
- Healthy stock from regional growers
- Written watering plan, with a 30-day check on bigger installs
How the job goes
Fall is the best window in East Texas, from September until around Thanksgiving. The soil stays warm for weeks after the air cools, so a tree planted in October gets close to six months of root growth before summer, while one planted in April gets about eight weeks. We plant year-round, but a spring tree needs more watering through its first summer.
Read the spot
We look at sun, drainage, nearby structures and how big the tree will get, then recommend species that fit.
Source the tree
We pick healthy stock from regional growers, and we'd usually rather plant a smaller tree that roots in fast.
Dig and set
Wide, shallow hole, root flare at grade, circling roots cut and native soil back in.
Basin, mulch and stake
We build a watering basin, lay a mulch ring off the trunk and stake only if the wind calls for it.
Water and check in
You get a written watering schedule, and on bigger installs we come back around the 30-day mark to check establishment.
A new tree drinks from its root ball, not your yard
A container tree comes in a ball of light potting mix. Your yard is clay, or sandy loam over clay. Water doesn't move well between textures that different, so until roots grow out into native soil, the tree is drinking from a buried pot. In July that ball dries out in about a day and a half while the clay six inches away is still moist.
That is why spring trees die in August in yards that got watered. Soak the ball itself with a hose on a trickle for twenty minutes. For a fall tree, do it twice a week for six weeks, weekly through November, then every ten to fourteen days in a dry winter. Soak everything new the day before a hard freeze.
Tree Planting questions
Something else on your mind? Ask us in the quote form.
How much does tree planting cost in Longview, TX?
We quote tree planting after a walkthrough rather than publishing a price, because the species and size of the tree drive most of the cost, along with how many you're planting and how easy the spot is to reach. You get a written quote with the tree, the planting and the aftercare plan spelled out. Send a quote request to set up the walkthrough.
When is the best time to plant a tree in East Texas?
Fall, from September until around Thanksgiving. The soil stays warm long after the air cools, so roots keep growing through most of our winter, and the tree has months of root under it before the first 100-degree day. Spring planting works but needs more watering all summer. Bare-root fruit trees and roses go in while dormant, December through February.
What trees grow best in East Texas?
Live oak, Shumard oak, post oak, southern magnolia, bald cypress, red maple, river birch, Chinese pistache, redbud, hollies and crepe myrtles all do well here. What struggles are maples bred for the Midwest and fruit trees from cooler climates. Mature size matters as much as species. A Natchez crepe myrtle wants 25 to 30 feet, while an Acoma stays near 10.
Should I add garden soil to the hole when I plant a tree?
No. Native soil goes back in the hole. A pocket of bagged garden soil in the middle of clay acts like a bathtub: water runs in, doesn't drain out, and roots circle in the soft pocket instead of growing into the yard. We also skip fertilizer at planting, because nitrogen pushes top growth when you want everything going into roots.
Should I buy a bigger tree so I get shade faster?
Usually not. A seven-gallon tree planted in October typically passes a thirty-gallon tree planted the same day within about four years, because it establishes faster and never spends a summer in shock. Bigger trees cost more, need more water and take longer to root out. We'll size the tree to the spot and to how long you're willing to wait.
Tree Planting near you
We work all over East Texas from our home base in Longview. Pick your town for local details and answers.
Related services
Tree & Shrub Care
Pruning, shaping and seasonal care for East Texas trees and shrubs, each one cut in its own window.
Landscaping
Beds, shrubs, trees, sod and borders planned around East Texas clay and summer heat, and installed by the same family-owned crew from start to finish.
Mulch Installation
Clean edges, weeds pulled by the root, and mulch laid at the depth that works in East Texas: 1 to 1.5 inches.
From the blog
What customers say
143 Google reviews
“These guys did a great job. They were even sweet and brought my trash can up to the house. Glad we switched to Yard Dog. We’d recommend them to anyone in the White Oak area!”
“I recently hired Miller to clear out my ditch area, and I couldn’t be more impressed with the results. From start to finish, the service was professional and efficient. They cleared the area quickly, removing overgrowth, debris, and ensuring proper drainage. Highly recommend Miller for any type of lawn care!”
“Miller and the 2 young gentleman that did work at my home today were great! Each of them had great manners, respect and worked extremely hard to get the job done. I look forward to using them again in the near future.”
Get a free tree planting quote
Tell us what you need and where. We call within a day, walk the property with you and send a written, itemized estimate. No pressure and no surprise add-ons.
- Free on-site walkthrough
- Written estimate, usually within a day
- Same crew every visit, never subcontracted
- Fully insured, 5.0 on Google from 143 reviews