Don't Bury That Tree!

Trees need to be planted in the ground, but planting too deep is a sure way to kill a tree and throw away the money invested on purchasing and planting it.

In southeast Michigan, spring is the prime season for tree planting, and is when homeowners consider doing their major landscaping work for the season. In the case of transplanting a tree, proper planting is absolutely critical. No amount of proper watering, pruning, and fertilizing can save a tree where the root ball has been planted too deep.

Nursery trees are available as:

1. Bare-Root: The tree is sold with the roots packed in a medium that retains moisture to protect the roots, and then is covered in paper or plastic. Before planting, the covering paper or plastic must be removed, and the roots must then be moistened. When the tree is placed in the planting hole spread the roots out evenly.
2. Balled and Burlapped (B & B): The tree is moved with a ball of soil to protect the root system. B & B trees will be heavy so professional arborists with the proper equipment should be hired for planting of larger trees. Smaller trees should be carried with a hand under the root ball. Lifting by the stem or tree branches can lead to serious root damage. To plant, set the root ball in the hole, adjust the position of the tree as necessary, then remove any twine and nails. Remove the burlap from the upper third of the root ball. Some soil may need to be removed from the top of the root ball to find the root flare at the base of the tree trunk.
3. Container: Trees grown in a pot have the advantage of root systems that are relatively undisturbed at the time of planting. The consumer should beware of “pot-bound” container trees, which have large amounts of roots completely circling the inside of the pot. Since roots should extend outward from the tree, these trees will have difficulty becoming established after planting as the thick ring of circling roots will hinder the outward spread of the root system. Immediately prior to planting container trees, remove the container and then prune the roots by up to 50 percent. This may seem like a lot, but still leaves sufficient root system for healthy plant establishment. By comparison, B & B trees only require a root pruning of about 10 percent or less.

Tree Planting Guidelines:

• To determine the size of the planting hole you need to dig measure the height and diameter of the root ball or root spread.
• Make the hole 1 to 3 inches shallower than the root ball or root depth. The diameter of the hole should be wider than the root ball or root spread.
• Place the tree on solid, undisturbed ground in the center of the planting hole. The tree should be planted so that the root flare is visible and above ground level.
• Fill the hole with the same soil that was dug out to make the hole. Use water to pack or settle the soil around the root ball.
• 2 to 4 inches of mulch should be placed around the tree to conserve soil moisture. Do not apply mulch against the trunk of the tree.
• After planting, prune the tree to remove any branches that may be broken, damaged, diseased or dead.
• Stake and/or protect the trunk of the tree as necessary to guard against possible wind damage or lawn mower injury. Remove the support wires and staking when no longer necessary or when the wires could damage or kill the tree by girdling.
• Prune the tree to promote a good branch structure once the tree has become established in its new location - usually 1 to 3 years after planting.  Never remove more than a quarter of total foliage in a single year.
• Tree fertilizing isn’t necessary at the time of planting, but it is OK to apply root stimulants.

The best advice for protecting your investment in a new tree and to insure a safe and healthy transplanting is to hire a tree care professional with the proper equipment, experience, and expertise to safely plant trees. Before hiring a company for this work, require proof of liability insurance.

Homeowners in Oakland, Genesee, Macomb, and Lapeer County, Michigan who are looking for advice and recommendations on purchasing and transplanting new trees should consult a professional arborist. For your own sake, make sure that the company you choose for landscaping or to do any work on your trees is insured, certified, and trained.