Liquidambar styraciflua 'Thea'

Planting Advice:

• Select an appropriate spot with enough space to allow your tree to grow. Slightly acidic soils will promote better leaf colour.
• Dig a hole twice the width of the roots, forking over the bottom to loosen the soil, then add some good quality fertiliser, compost or well-rotted manure. We've found that a square hole is better than a round one as the new roots, once they reach the edges tend to grow in a circle round the circumference of the hole whereas when they reach the corners of a square hole, they find it easier to grow through.
• Plant at the same depth as the tree was in its pot.
• For all trees, use our Tree Planting Kits – including stakes, rubber ties and Mycorrhizal fungi, which is proven to aid tree growth and development.
• Push 40cm of each stake into the soil next to each tree. Make a figure of eight around both the trunk and stake with a tie and fasten it off. Spread Mycorrhizal granules in contact with the roots when planting.
  Holding the tree upright in position with one hand, slowly backfill the hole with soil, so the soil falls back around the roots.
• Compact the soil around the plant with your heel to ensure good contact around the roots and water in well.
• Mulch around the base of the plant with a collar, compost, gravel, bark etc.

Aftercare Advice:

• Best in full sun to grow well, in well-drained, fertile and slightly acid soils.
• Established trees are largely trouble free.
• Apply a balanced fertiliser such as fish blood and bone in late February.
• Keep plants well-watered for at least 4 years and remove all competing vegetation.
• A mulch of well-rotted compost around the base of the tree will help to retain moisture.
• Liquidambar does not require regular pruning but can be trimmed lightly if needed. In late winter/early spring, remove any branches that are damaged, crossing or weak. You should also remove any suckers.