My ‘dirt donut’ method is the key to success for planting new trees – a final touch is like the frosting and sprinkles

A nature-loving influencer has unveiled a clever and easy way to give new trees a head start when planting.

The secret to the gardening hack is to form an “earth donut” around the base of the tree to make this possible Water to fully penetrate the roots.

3

3

Cottonwood Urban Farm (@cuarm) has shown how helpful the technique is when planting new or young trees.

In TikTok VideoStarting with the tree already planted in the ground, he began to build a ring of raised earth in a wide circle around the trunk of the tree.

He said this method of planting is “one of the funnest, especially when you’re a little person under the age of five.”

After planting the tree in the ground, he said, “You will make a ring of raised earth over the well you have just dug.”

With his hands, the influencer demonstrated to the camera that once the dirt donut is ready, you can fill the ring with water, which will slowly drain to the tree roots.

He said: “This allows for deep irrigation. We can fill the water up to the brim and drain it back down.”

“Thorough watering is key to the success of this tree. We want to create a resilient, deep root system.”

This planting technique could also be called “berme,” he added.

The California-based TikToker explained, “Tree wells like this, deep mounds of earth, are very helpful. As the tree gets bigger, the canopy gets bigger and the earthen walls get wider and wider.”

Gardeners should then apply mulch around the outside of the ring to insulate the tree, which the influencer says is the donut’s “frosting and sprinkles.”

He said, “Spread mulch all around your new berm, all the way to the edge.

“This will keep the nice moisture in while those feed roots expand. So push the mulch against the edge of the ring of soil around the tree.”

The video ended after mulch was spread evenly around the outer edge of the ring of soil and the tree was ready for watering.

In the video’s caption, the TikToker wrote that this method of planting “protects the soil around the berm, locks in moisture, and is a slow-moving compost.”

The influencer uploads other gardening work hacks and tricks on his site, including other ways to plant trees and plant care tips.

3