How to Plant a Tree in Honor of Someone
- 1). Pick a sturdy tree to plant, one that will live a long time, and one that can withstand disease and strong winds. Good examples are fir trees, pines native to the area in which they will be planted, and cedars. Oaks and and sugar maples are also good choices. A bad example would be a Bradford pear tree, which is beautiful as a young tree, but it doesn't hold up well over several years.
- 2). Think of the person whose memory you are honoring. Think of what kind of tree he or she would choose to plant for themselves if they were here. Maybe you can remember a specific tree the person once mention they liked.
- 3). Plant a tree to commemorate a birth or a death, keeping in mind the time of year on which the anniversary of the event falls. Choose a tree that blooms around that time. There are some winter bloomers in certain growing zones, such as witch hazels. Plant a spring bloomer specifically to symbolize rebirth and renewal as a memorial tree.
- 4). Consider the site where the tree is going to be planted. For instance, don't plant it where it might grow up and interfere with overhead power lines. Eventually, the utility company will send someone to trim the branches away from the power lines, thus disfiguring the memorial tree.
- 5). Plant a tree in memory of the passing of a loved one, say a grandparent, in a location where he or she may have sat and looked out over the yard. Or, plant it outside the window where the grandparent sat and gazed through her living room or bedroom window. To commemorate the birth of a child, consider planting a tree outside the window of the nursery.
- 6). Select trees based on the soil it will be planted in, and how much sun or shade they need to thrive. When selecting ornamental trees, remember that they will require pruning along the way.
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