Don t Put a $100 Tree in a $10 Hole

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Industry Standards Don t Put a $100 Tree in a $10 Hole Marcus Duck Academic Advisor, Instructor & Program

edu/students American Association of Nurserymen (AAN) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI)

branches Search for ANLA Standards at: http://www.anla.

ground if 4 diameter Measured 12 above ground if > 4 diameter Standards for measuring DBH Diameter Breast

Bare Root No soil roots must be moist Dug late fall/winter and stored Shipped dormant No freezing temps!! B.

1 Industry Standards Don t Put a $100 Tree in a $10 Hole Marcus Duck Academic Advisor, Instructor & Program Coordinator MSU s 2-year Landscape Horticulture Programs American Association of Nurserymen (AAN) and the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Establish guidelines: Height to caliper ratios for bare root stock Root ball width/depth Branching number of branches Search for ANLA Standards at: Industry Standards AAN and ANSI Establish guidelines: Standards for measuring caliper Measured 6 above ground if 4 diameter Measured 12 above ground if > 4 diameter Standards for measuring DBH Diameter Breast Height Trunk diameter at 54 A. Liners Young seedlings Need to be hardened off to acclimate to new site B. Bare Root No soil roots must be moist Dug late fall/winter and stored Shipped dormant No freezing temps!! B. Bare Root Types of plants: deciduous, fruit trees up to 1 ½ -2 caliper, evergreen seedlings up to 5, perennials Method: Maintain as many fine roots as possible Keep roots moist and top cool = no bud break Heel-in using peat moss, newspaper, etc.

remain dormant Ball of soil wrapped with

Rootball needs to be as tight as possible

year round Plant any time 1, 2, 3, 5, 12,

2 B. Bare Root C. B&B (balled and burlapped) Tops must remain dormant Ball of soil wrapped with burlap tied with wire basket or rope C. B&B (balled and burlapped) Handle with care Must keep soil and roots in contact with one another Larger the planting = longer establishment period C. B&B (balled and burlapped) Types of plants: Shrubs, shade trees, specimen trees Method: Tree spade and drop into burlap-lined wire basket Hand dug: ¼ lacing or drum lacing 12 diameter rootball for every 1 in trunk caliper Rootball needs to be as tight as possible Firm punch ball and gently move trunk Stable C. B&B (balled and burlapped) D. Container-grown / Containerized Available year round Plant any time 1, 2, 3, 5, 12, and larger gallon sizes All types of plants Moist but not standing in water (smelly = rot) Not distorted

E. Tree Spade Small to very large specimens 24, 36, 42, 65, 90, etc.

Tree Spade Types of plants: specimens and large caliper Method: 12 of root ball per 1

F. Tree Boxes Very large specimens Additional Notes 1.

Good branching patterns = healthier plants and less maintenance issues in the future

Narrow-leaf evergreen = easier than broad leaf evergreens Fibrous rooted = better than

3 E. Tree Spade Small to very large specimens 24, 36, 42, 65, 90, etc. Ideally dug spring or fall E. Tree Spade Types of plants: specimens and large caliper Method: 12 of root ball per 1 of caliper Moist soil before digging Avoid GLAZING clay content and heat from friction F. Tree Boxes Very large specimens Additional Notes 1. Root system quality is critical for long-term success 2. Good branching patterns = healthier plants and less maintenance issues in the future Additional Notes Species Considerations: Deciduous = easier than narrowleaf evergreen Narrow-leaf evergreen = easier than broad leaf evergreens Fibrous rooted = better than tap rooted Additional Notes Antitranspirants = reduce transpiration Sometimes used in summer or on conifers in fall Caution: can reduce cooling and CO 2 intake Check behind plastic trunk guards Untie branches to check for quality

Preparing the Site Soil Test: ph, soil type, nutrients Before design begins = select appropriate plants Don t test for N = levels change quickly DO test for P & K Don t forget about MICROnutrients,

topsoil Preparing the Site Call Miss Dig 24/7 = 1-800-482-7171 or 811 Oil & Gas = Yellow Phone & Cable = Orange Electric = Red Water = Blue Storm Drain = Green Sewer = Brown Surveying = Pink

4 Preparing the Site Soil Test: ph, soil type, nutrients Before design begins = select appropriate plants Don t test for N = levels change quickly DO test for P & K Don t forget about MICROnutrients, too! C HOPKNS CaFe Mg B Mn CuZn MoCl Preparing the Site Soil amendments: Can actually impede instead of help Make sure mixture/transition between two types of soil DON T simply cover bad soil with topsoil Preparing the Site Call Miss Dig 24/7 = or 811 Oil & Gas = Yellow Phone & Cable = Orange Electric = Red Water = Blue Storm Drain = Green Sewer = Brown Surveying = Pink Preparing the Site Also on-line Call 3 working days before you dig Dog invisible fence present? Gas or Elec installed by homeowner? Look for overhead lines Depth of utilities not consistent Contractor must make call Type of material used = extend season or window of opportunity Best time = warm soil temps and well aerated NOT WET!! Availability of after care are plants just left to fend for themselves?

!! Don t dig too deep Settling can occur Bare root: Remove dead and damaged roots only Do NOT prune roots to

graft or bud union B & B: Get it in the hole before removing packaging If plastic remove completely Do NOT

5 Don t plant $100 tree in a $10 hole!! Wide, shallow hole room for backfill Good soil contact mix native and amendments Rough up edges!!! Don t dig too deep Settling can occur Bare root: Remove dead and damaged roots only Do NOT prune roots to fit hole Keep roots moist soak to re-hydrate Tamp down to remove air pockets Water immediately NEVER bury the graft or bud union B & B: Get it in the hole before removing packaging If plastic remove completely Do NOT bunch up burlap in the hole Top of root ball = at or just above the natural grade Top of root ball in contact with backfill REMOVE UPPER RINGS OF WIRE BASKETS REMOVE: UPPER BURLAP ROPE UPPER RINGS OF WIRE BASKETS

root ball (over the planting hole) Container-grown Very

Butterfly technique if extremely pot bound Positioning

side to sun Heavy branch side into wind Knee of grafted

vertical ignore ball or canopy Fertilization Bad

6 Must see the root flare!!! Container-grown Gradual transition between container media and native soil Troughs o.k. IF plant is highest point Container-grown Rough-up the root ball (over the planting hole) Container-grown Very extreme root ball fix (after): Point roots outward Butterfly technique if extremely pot bound Positioning the Plant Aesthetics best side to viewer Turn sparse side to sun Heavy branch side into wind Knee of grafted plant if possible, orient to NE Keep trunk straight / vertical ignore ball or canopy Fertilization Bad practice to fertilize at planting Avoid pushing top growth Very little or no extra Nitrogen P & K adjusted BEFORE planting

Mulch and Water Check ball AND backfill 10gal / inch caliper / week for 1 to 2

bark beetle spray Pruning Only remove the 3 D s Wait 1 full year Exceptions:

#2 Remove after 1 growing season When to stake?

Unsupportive native soil Windy site = 1 stake upwind Staking (cont.

caliper development More prone to breaking or tipping after removed If in contact

7 Mulch and Water Check ball AND backfill 10gal / inch caliper / week for 1 to 2 yrs as needed Mulch is wonderful: Moderate temp Retains moisture Suppresses competition Mulch and Water (cont.) Gator bags: Typically used for extended periods Treat trees with borer and/or bark beetle spray Pruning Only remove the 3 D s Wait 1 full year Exceptions: Thinning cuts to establish scaffold Avoid heading cuts Staking Rule #1 DON T Rule #2 Remove after 1 growing season When to stake? Poor taper can t hold its canopy Caliper greater than 3 Oversized top Unsupportive native soil Windy site = 1 stake upwind Staking (cont.) Growth Effects If held too tightly: Reduce taper and smaller root system Reduce caliper development More prone to breaking or tipping after removed If in contact with bark: Shaded cells will stretch due to auxin flow Support Stakes: Attached in upper half of canopy Use 1 to 3 stakes at one point on the trunk Ground anchor 2/3 height of tree connector from trunk

Support Stakes: Soft, bark friendly materials Pantyhose, burlap, soft plastic = GOOD Rubber

! Compression springs will allow movement Leave slack Use turnbuckles to allow easy

! Harbor insects Weakens covered bark Only use if: Thin bark Hot microclimate with chance of

8 Support Stakes: Soft, bark friendly materials Pantyhose, burlap, soft plastic = GOOD Rubber hoses & wire = BAD Keep stake away from bark Support Stakes: Must allow movement!! Compression springs will allow movement Leave slack Use turnbuckles to allow easy adjustment Tree Wraps AVOID USING THEM!! Harbor insects Weakens covered bark Only use if: Thin bark Hot microclimate with chance of sun scold Prevent deer & rabbit damage Tree Wraps (cont.) Do Not want it to hold moisture Light color to moderate temp Wrap starting at the bottom for better water shed

Planting Landscape Trees Larry A. Sagers Extension Horticulture Specialist Utah State University Thanksgiving Point Office

Trees and Shrubs Provide Beauty Wind protection Shade Wildlife habitat Visual Screening Topics of the Day Buying Trees Digging Holes Planting Trees Planting Landscape Trees Larry A. Sagers Extension Horticulture