Planning to plant a tree in your yard? A good resource is www.arborday.org, the website of the Arbor Day Foundation. You’ll find anything and everything you want to know about planting trees and can find and identify trees to plant on your property. As a tree grows and thrives it provides a shady spot in warm weather; during the colder months, its bare branches allow the sunlight to shine through in the fall and winter. Planting a tree is a long-term investment, as you’ll enjoy nurturing it and watching it grow as it becomes a permanent part of the landscape.
To plant a 2-inch caliper maple tree that’s approximately 9 feet high a landscape contractor or tree service charges $409, which includes labor and material. A homeowner can buy a tree for $300 and plant it and save 27 percent.
Tap into the expertise at a local gardening center to learn the type of tree to plant in your area. To help visualize how the tree will look on your property as it grows, make a scaled drawing of your yard and note any existing trees and what surrounds them. Don’t plant a new tree too near the growing zone of existing trees, where it would be under their shadow or too close to the house, property line or under overhead cables. To prevent hitting any underground cables or pipes, call your local utility company. The Miss Utility program at wwww.misutility.net promotes “call before you dig” and directs you to information about your area.
To find more DIY project costs and to post comments and questions, visit www.diyornot.com and m.diyornot.com on smartphones.
Pro Cost—DIY Cost—Pro time—DIY Time—DIY Savings—Percent Saved
$409—$300—3.1—6.0—$109—27 percent
