Remove support staking and ties after the first year of growth. Leave protective staking in place as long as necessary. Mulch the base of the tree. Mulch is simply organic matter applied to the area at the base of the tree. It acts as a blanket to hold moisture, protect against harsh soil temperatures, both hot and cold, and reduces competition from grass and weeds.
Some good choices are leaf litter, pine straw, shredded bark, peat moss, or wood chips.
A two to four inch layer is ideal. More that four inches may cause a problem with gas exchange. When placing mulch, care should be taken so that the actual trunk of the tree is not covered. This may cause decay of the living bark at the base of the tree. A mulch-free area, one to two inches wide at the base of the tree, is sufficient to avoid moist bark conditions and prevent decay.