Tree care maintenance includes choosing the right type of tree for the space, selecting a healthy tree, planting the tree, proper mulching, pruning/trimming, and watering. This link to the Arbor Day Foundation provides tips, videos, and step-by-step instructions.
Planting
How to Plant a Tree: Arbor Day Foundation The article includes instructions based on the kind of tree planted. The root configuration – bare root, containerized, or balled & burlapped – determines the best planting process.
Planting a Tree or Shrub: University of Maryland Extension. This page includes soil preparation; instructions for bare root plants, balled and burlapped/wire baskets, and container grown plants; when and how to move, replant and transplant trees or shrubs; root pruning; and staking trees.
Pruning
Pruning Trees: Publication from Treesearch: U.S. Forest Service. The objective of pruning is to produce strong, healthy, attractive plants. By understanding how, when and why to prune, and by following a few simple principles, this objective can be achieved.
Pruning Versus Trimming: What’s the Difference?: The Complete Pruning Guide. Advice on pruning is given by a network of licensed Arborists and horticulturists on this site.
Mulching
Mulching Trees and Shrubs, University of Maryland Extension. Mulch should never touch the bark of a plant, as there is such a thing as applying too much mulch. Other topics covered in this article are kinds of mulch and mulch problems.
Watering
How to Properly Water Your Trees: Arbor Day Foundation. Watering trees properly is one of the best ways to keep them healthy and stress-free. There’s no magic schedule for watering trees. How often you should water will depend on the size of your tree, soil conditions, and weather conditions. Newly planted trees require much more water than established ones.
Harford County Forestry Board 
