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HERE'S THE RECOMMENDED WAY TO PLANT A TREE
I learned an interesting fact at a recent University of Minnesota class on trees. Our instructor said that the science of arboriculture is essentially only two to three decades old. In other words, much of what we know today about good tree management practices has only been learned in the last 25 years.
That's kind of scary, since many of today's commonly practiced planting and pruning methods have likely been influenced more by folklore and decades-old advice than by recently discovered "best management practices."
Here are tree-planting recommendations published in 1998 by a consortium of university and U.S. Forest Service arborists. Perhaps you already follow these practices. If not, I hope you will give them consideration.
If possible, prepare the site before you bring in the tree. Keep the root ball well watered and keep the tree in a shaded place until you are ready to plant.
If the root ball is contained inside burlap, it is imperative that you locate the root collar before the planting site is dug so you know how deep to dig the planting site. The root collar is the point at the base of the trunk where the first large roots begin branching laterally from the trunk. Measure the height from the root collar to the bottom of the root ball - this is the proper depth for the hole because the root collar needs to be planted at landscape grade.
Dig the planting site at least three times the diameter of the root ball. The hole you're digging should resemble a wash basin rather than a pit.
Break up compacted soil. Sides of the planting space should not be packed. Leave soil at the bottom of the planting hole firm and undisturbed.
Do not amend soil unless planting in building rubble or in poor or severely disturbed soils.
Lift tree into planting space by the root ball, not by the trunk. For larger trees, this may be a two- or three-person job.
Balance tree upright in center of planting space.
For trees in wire baskets, cut and remove all or at least the top two tiers of wire.
Cut away strings and burlap or plastic, exposing root ball. Do not remove soil from root ball.
If the tree is container grown, cut and remove container.
Prune dead or crushed roots and straighten or cut circling roots. Make clean cuts.
Begin refilling planting site with soil, watering as you fill, and tamp gently to set tree firmly in place.
Never plant too deep. Remember, the root collar, which may have been hidden inside root ball, must be at ground level. Fill soil only to where roots begin to branch from trunk.
Prune only dead or injured branches. Do not paint wounds.
Remove tree wrap, tape or string on trunk. Trunks should be wrapped only to protect them in transit at planting site.
If tree is staked, bracing should support tree but still permit it to move and sway. Use wide, belt-like strapping attached to two sturdy stakes. Do not use rope or wire through a hose.
Mulch lightly and evenly with 2 to 4 inches of composted material at least to the diameter of crown of tree. Leave a 3-inch circle of bare soil around the trunk. The wider the mulch area around the tree, the happier your tree will be. Deep layers of mulch mounded up against the trunk can be harmful.
Do not fertilize at planting time, and do not plant flowers under the tree.
Water is the critical factor for tree survival after planting. Throughout first growing season, water the tree regularly and deeply. Allow water to run slowly at the edge of the planting site, soaking the soil once or twice a week. Do not water more often.
Keep lawn mowers and string trimmers away from the tree to avoid wounding trunk. Reduce herbicide use near tree and in surrounding lawn.
If you have trees planted for you by a contractor, discuss planting depth to ensure that your tree doesn't get planted too deep. If the contractor isn't aware of the need for the root collar to be planted at landscape grade, or if he or she doesn't examine the root ball to locate the root collar, insist that they follow this procedure. Trees that are planted too deep will fail prematurely (see last week's column). Remember, it's your money and your tree.
Nobody plants a tree with the expectation it will live for only five or 10 years, or only until the first severe storm. Mature trees in the landscape can have a value of thousands of dollars, but no tree can reach its genetic potential unless it is planted correctly.
Arbor Day in Minnesota is April 24. Make plans now to plant a tree that day, or help someone else plant a tree.
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