CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Last week, we explored why fall is a great season for planting trees in Northeast Ohio and how to select a tree. But for the tree to thrive, you have to plant it correctly and give it some extra love for the next few years.

Planting your own tree isn’t complicated , but to give your tree the best chance at success, it should be done carefully. The basic steps are:

Dig wide, not deep. Dig a hole two to three times as wide as the root ball, but no deeper. Put the removed soil on an old tarp or in a wheelbarrow to make filling the hole much easier.

The wide hole loosens up the soil around the new tree, so the roots have an easy pathway to grow. This step is especially important in clay soils. If the soil is very dry, fill the hole with water and let it drain once or

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