How soon after a tree dies can a replacement tree be planted in the same location?

Veronica EXPERT July 15, 2008

Without knowing why the first tree died, it's almost impossible to give you foolproof advice.

By "gas leak," my first impression is that you mean a natural gas leak from an underground pipe. If that's the case, your local gas company should be able to tell you how long gas remains in the soil.

If instead you mean gasoline, I'd remove the soil to a depth of about 4 feet by 4 feet and dispose of it where you don't care how things grow. Fill the hole with water once or twice and let it drain to flush any remaining gasoline out of the soil. Then fill the hole partly (the tree will take up some room) with good quality topsoil and plant.

Plant a different tree species from what you planted the first time. It may have not liked the site (sun, soil, etc.). And if the tree died from a disease, a different type of tree is less likely to die from whatever got the original tree.

You didn't mention how old the previous tree was, but if it was fairly newly planted, it might never have become well established, for any number of reasons. When you plant, the top of the tree's root ball should be even with the natural soil line. Then keep the root ball damp by watering daily for the first few days and then once or twice a week for several weeks after. (Take care not to overwater it, however, since that can kill a tree.) Mulch it with 2-3 inches of wood bark or other mulch.