Planting a tree in Aruba is a beautiful act of restoration—but it comes with its own set of challenges.
Our island’s hard, dry soil and arid climate mean that trees need a little extra care to take root and thrive. With the right preparation and planting techniques, you can help native trees grow strong and resilient—contributing to a healthier, greener Aruba for generations to come.
Deep-watering
Deep-watering is also key to long-term success.
To support this, we suggest installing a PVC pipe approximately 75–80 cm long and about 5 cm (1½”) in diameter during planting.We refer to this pipe as a Deep-watering pipe. Drill holes of 1/4 ” throughout the length of the pipe so the water spreads throughout the dept of the pipe. You can also add some wood scraps and/or rocks at the bottom of the planting hole to create deep-watering cavities. The pipe helps deliver water directly to the deeper soil layers—ensuring the tree can access moisture as its roots grow deeper and stronger.
Soil preparation
Soil preparation is essential As we all know, Aruba’s soil is rocky, sandy, compacted—and especially during the rainy season, water tends to run off instead of soaking in. That’s why we recommend gathering a reasonable amount of organic material and quality compost, such as donkey manure. Mixing this into the soil improves water absorption and provides essential nutrients for your tree or plant.
Planting technique
After testing several planting methods, we’ve found the technique described step by step, to be the most effective for our local conditions.
Planting Across Aruba’s Key Community Spaces
1- Water your tree a couple of days before planting.
2- Dig a hole about 70cm wide and 50cm deep
3- Roughen the sides of the hole to help roots break through.
4- Water the hole thoroughly and wait until fully drained
5- Fill the bottom with wood gravel or rocks
6- Place a 80cm long PVC pipe in the hole.
7- Prep and mix the soil (1/4 organic material 1/4 compost 2/4 Original soil)
8- Fill the hole to about 2/3
9- Gently remove the tree from its pot and place it in the center.
Make sure the top of the root ball is level with the surrounding
ground
10- Fill the rest of the hole and lightly pack the soil to avoid air pockets.
11- Water thoroughly.
Aftercare & Maintenance
Help your tree thrive:
- Support young trees if your area gets strong winds.
- Protect against goats—they love tender shoots!
- Mulch with leaves, branches or organic material to keep soil moist and nutrient-rich.
- Water early in the evening or early morning, several times a week at first. Both through the deep-watering pipe aswel as on top of the soil around the tree. Over time, reduce to 1 to 2 times a week deep soak weekly (about 1 gallon).
- Prune the lower branches if you want your tree to grow tall—do this at the end of the dry season using sharp pruning scissors.
Be Patient
Aruba’s native trees are built for the long haul. They may grow slowly, but with care, they’ll reward you—and the island—for generations.