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Friday, February 14, 2025

Two Tree-Planting Pitfalls to Keep away from


You’ve most likely heard the outdated saying that the perfect time to plant a tree is 20 years in the past, and the second greatest time is now. If you happen to’ve just lately been impressed so as to add a new tree to your panorama, there are just a few steps you may take to get your new acquisition off to a fantastic begin.

Timber have very particular preferences in regard to planting depth. When a tree germinates in an undisturbed pure setting, it’s usually capable of set up a root system that spreads out close to the soil’s floor, offering the rising tree with water, vitamins, and correct structural assist. However all too usually timber are planted too deeply in backyard settings, compromising their well being and structural integrity.

tree planted too deeply with root flare below the surface
This commercially grown tree was planted too deeply, with the basis flare effectively beneath the soil’s floor. Some circling roots are additionally evident. Picture: Adam Glas

Whether or not a tree is grown in a pot or grown in a subject to be balled and burlaped upon harvest, the basis flare or buttress flare of the tree is usually buried a number of inches or extra beneath the soil floor. The basis flare refers back to the decrease portion of the trunk the place the primary structural roots emerge from the tree. These first structural roots have to be on the floor or just a few inches beneath the pure grade of the soil. When the basis flare is correctly positioned, the structural roots are capable of present ultimate assist for the aboveground parts of the tree, serving to it to resist wind and snow masses.

trunk of tree planted at proper depth
The trunk of a tree planted on the correct depth will usually be wider the bottom of its trunk. Most of a tree’s root system spreads out horizontally, amassing water and vitamins from the highest few inches of soil. Picture: Adam Glas

Roots additionally have to breathe and bear gaseous exchanges to outlive. Most of a tree’s root system develops throughout the high 18 inches of the soil, which is what permits these exchanges to happen. Many of the vitamins a tree wants for correct well being are additionally discovered near the soil’s floor. If roots are buried too deeply, a tree’s general well being might be significantly compromised.

To keep away from these issues, our first line of protection is to buy correctly grown materials. On the nursery or backyard middle, examine potential purchases to the perfect of your capability with out damaging them. This may be performed by gently digging on the base of the tree to see in the event you can really feel or see the primary structural roots on the soil’s floor or just a few inches beneath the floor. As a client, you’ve gotten buying energy that can be utilized to assist carry gentle to this problem. If timber are buried too deeply, kindly let the provider know that that is the explanation you’ll not be buying them. However in case you are searching for very particular plant materials and there usually are not many choices, it’s possible you’ll have to buy a tree that has been buried too deeply and carry out root flare excavation upon planting.

tree with circling root
Circling roots have to be eliminated to protect the long-term well being of the tree. Picture: Adam Glas

One other frequent problem with container-grown timber is girdling or circling roots. This happens when a tree has been saved in its rising container too lengthy. The creating roots will finally attain the perimeters of the container, the place they don’t have any different possibility however to circle across the fringe of the pot. At planting time, these circling roots should both be trimmed away or teased out and positioned at a 90° angle from the trunk. If this doesn’t occur, the roots will proceed to develop in a round route. Over time, because the diameter of the trunk grows, it is going to are available contact with these round roots, which can finally girdle or reduce off the vascular system of the tree just under the bark layer. This creates a significant structural defect, and in some instances will trigger the the tree to die.

If you happen to plant a tree on the correct depth and get rid of circling roots, it ought to be capable of thrive for many years.

 

—Adam Glas is a backyard supervisor and rosarian on the Scott Arboretum of Swarthmore Faculty in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.

New to planting timber? Try this text from our Gardening Fundamentals Mission Information: Planting Timber and Shrubs the Proper Approach

For excessive instances of circling roots, it’s possible you’ll have to strive a extra excessive method. Right here’s the place to start: A Higher Repair for Root-Sure Vegetation

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