Blog

Tree planting & care guides

Practical advice from the Arbor Buddy team on choosing the right tree, planting it well and keeping it thriving in your zone.

Aug 17, 2026
When Is the Best Time to Plant a Tree?
Fall wins for most trees, early spring for the rest, and zones 8-10 can plant all winter. The best planting window for your USDA zone, in one table.
Read article →By Maggie Trent
Aug 14, 2026
How to Plant a Tree the Right Way (Step-by-Step)
Dig 2-3x the root ball width and no deeper, set the flare 1-2 inches high and water 10 gallons per trunk inch weekly. Every step, with the numbers.
Read article →By Maggie Trent
Aug 12, 2026
From Field to Front Yard: How Nursery Trees Are Grown
Grafting, liner beds, root pruning and pot bumps: the multi-year process behind a landscape tree, and why growing methods decide planting success.
Read article →By Maggie Trent
Aug 10, 2026
Why a Smaller Tree Sometimes Beats a Bigger One
Big transplants lose most of their roots and stall for years while small trees catch up. The establishment math tree sellers rarely explain.
Read article →By Maggie Trent
Aug 7, 2026
Best Places to Buy Trees Online (Honest Roundup)
Seven online tree sellers compared on shipping size, packing, guarantees and price, including the cases where a local nursery still beats them all.
Read article →By Maggie Trent
Aug 5, 2026
Tree Guarantees Compared: What a Warranty Should Cover
Most online nurseries cover 30 days; the strong ones cover a year. What a tree guarantee should include, and the fine print that voids claims.
Read article →By Maggie Trent
Aug 3, 2026
Is Buying Trees Online Worth It? An Honest Look
Sometimes yes, sometimes no. What mail-order trees do well, where they disappoint, and six checks that separate good nurseries from stick-shippers.
Read article →By Maggie Trent
Jul 31, 2026
Online Nursery vs. Local Nursery vs. Big-Box Garden Center
Each seller wins somewhere: online for selection and zone matching, local for hand-picked and installed trees, big-box for cheap basics. A fair breakdown.
Read article →By Maggie Trent
Buying Guide · Jul 29, 2026
How Much Do Trees Cost? Price Guide by Type and Size
Typical tree prices by pot size and caliper, plus freight and planting costs, so you can budget the whole project before you order anything.
Read article →By Maggie Trent
Buying Guide · Jul 27, 2026
The Best Time to Order Trees (It's Earlier Than You Think)
Order 1-3 months before your planting window and skip the sold-out lists. When to buy trees for spring and fall, and why nurseries ship by zone.
Read article →By Maggie Trent
Shipping & Delivery · Jul 24, 2026
Your Tree Just Arrived: What to Do in the First 48 Hours
Unbox it, water it, keep it shaded and plant within days. A calm 48-hour plan for mail-order trees, plus the damage checks worth photographing.
Read article →By Maggie Trent
Shipping & Delivery · Jul 22, 2026
How Are Trees Shipped? Freight Delivery, Step by Step
From nursery crate to your curb: how large trees are shipped by freight, what liftgate delivery looks like and what to check before you sign.
Read article →By Maggie Trent
Sizes & Stock · Jul 20, 2026
What 'Landscape-Grade' Means When You Buy Mature Trees for Sale
Landscape-grade means measurable specs, not marketing. The caliper, height and root ball standards that separate real mature trees from big saplings.
Read article →By Maggie Trent
Sizes & Stock · Jul 17, 2026
Tree Sizes Explained: Gallons, Caliper, and Height Classes
Nursery pot numbers, trunk caliper and height classes translated into real-world tree sizes, so you know exactly what will show up on the truck.
Read article →By Maggie Trent
Sizes & Stock · Jul 15, 2026
Bare Root vs. Container vs. Balled-and-Burlapped Trees
Bare root trees cost less and ship dormant, containers forgive mistakes, and B&B suits big specimens. How to pick the right nursery stock type.
Read article →By Maggie Trent
Buying Guide · Jul 13, 2026
How to Buy Trees Online: The Complete First-Timer's Guide
Match species to your USDA zone, pick the right size, order early and inspect on arrival. The whole process of buying trees online, minus the hype.
Read article →By Maggie Trent

When Is the Best Time to Plant a Tree?

How to Plant a Tree the Right Way (Step-by-Step)

From Field to Front Yard: How Nursery Trees Are Grown

Why a Smaller Tree Sometimes Beats a Bigger One

Best Places to Buy Trees Online (Honest Roundup)

Tree Guarantees Compared: What a Warranty Should Cover

Is Buying Trees Online Worth It? An Honest Look

Online Nursery vs. Local Nursery vs. Big-Box Garden Center

How Much Do Trees Cost? Price Guide by Type and Size

The Best Time to Order Trees (It's Earlier Than You Think)

Your Tree Just Arrived: What to Do in the First 48 Hours

How Are Trees Shipped? Freight Delivery, Step by Step

What 'Landscape-Grade' Means When You Buy Mature Trees for Sale

Tree Sizes Explained: Gallons, Caliper, and Height Classes

Bare Root vs. Container vs. Balled-and-Burlapped Trees

How to Buy Trees Online: The Complete First-Timer's Guide