Planting Trees & Shrubs Handouts: Planting and Maintaining Trees and Shrubs Study Guide Choosing Trees and Shrubs Tip: Walk around the neighborhood, see what grows in your area and bring a sample to the Extension office or to your local nursery. Describe to them where you live, your soil texture, soil ph, how big you want it to grow, and where you plan on planting it. Tree Quotes If a tree is planted correctly, it will grow twice as fast and live at least twice as long as one that is incorrectly planted. Arbor Day 1
Tree Quotes If a tree is planted correctly, it will grow twice as fast and live at least twice as long as one that is incorrectly planted. Arbor Day That tree in your yard is worth anywhere from $1,000 to $20,000. Your trees should be treated as well as your vehicles. However, unlike vehicles, trees gain value. Toby Day General Tree and Shrub Planting Tips The planting hole should be no deeper than the soil they were grown in The panting hole should be at least 2X as wide as the root bll ball or pot. Amendments can be added for smaller shrubs, but is not recommended for larger shrubs and trees General Tree and Shrub Planting Tips Place the tree in the ground so that the trunk collar is 1 3 higher than ground level Backfill and Compress the soil around the rootball. Water during planting to remove air pockets 2
General Tree and Shrub Planting Tips Create a tree well for watering (mulch but not up against trunk could cause disease issues!) Water immediately Stake If needed? We will discuss this later Positioning your Tree Side with most branches into the wind Longest roots into the prevailing wind Lowest branches away from walkway Nicest side towards viewing Avoid reflective surfaces White buildings Crushed stone mulch Too much concrete nearby South exposures Important Rule of Thumb Small plants transplant better than larger specimens of the same species As a rule, trees take one year to establish for every 1 in trunk diameter Example: a tree with a 3 trunk diameter will, on average take 3 years to establish and start actively growing 3
There are usually 3 ways to buy trees and shrubs Bare root Balled in Burlap (Balled and Burlapped) (B & B) Containerized Planted in containers of various sizes Bare Root Inexpensive Usually smaller in size than B&B and containerized Should not be leafing out (dormant) Very little (if any) soil around the roots Transplant only when dormant (no leaves). Keep in a cool, dark and humid place until planting time Keep roots moist os Bare Root Trees transplanted from the wild or from other properties should be considered bare root Transplant when dormant However, transplanting from the wild is not advised due potential of insects and disease Because these trees are not dormant, they will most likely die after planting. 4
Planting a Bare Root Tree or Shrub Correct Way to Plant a Bare Root Plant Soil mound allows roots to lay in a natural position Cut out all circling, unhealthy and broken roots Plant so that the trunk collar is 1 3 above the soil line B&B B & B more expensive. The plant has usually been mechanically harvested with the root ball intact and wrapped Approximately 10% 20% of the original root system is still intact (from the field) Usually used to transplant larger trees 5
Balled in Burlap (B&B) Plants B&B trees should always be lifted by the ball and not the trunk If burlap is fastened with baler twine, loosen at the top and leave in place Remember to cut away all the twine around the trunk or it will girdle the tree Remove wire is it possible? If the root ball falls apart, transplant success will be minimal You may want to do this when the B&B is in the planting hole (so that the root ball stays intact) Pull burlap and wire down at least ½ way down into planting hole Planting B&B Trees and Shrubs Backfill with original soil taken out of the planting hole. Remove any rocks or debris. How Big Should the Root Ball Be? Important Rule of Thumb : 1 foot of root ball for each 1 of trunk diameter Measured at 6 to 12 off the ground Example: 4 diameter trunk = 4 root ball 6
Containerized Container Grown Usually most expensive Plant any time soil is not frozen You can liftcontainerized plants by the lower trunk or canes As opposed to B&B If the plant slides up and out of the pot, or nearly so, check to see if it is potbound (rootbound). Planting a Containerized Tree or Shrub Same as other tree and shrub planting methods, but be aware of circling roots! Butterfly or score the roots to prevent girdling roots Cut out any circling or unhealthy roots Butterfly tight root balls When you purchase a container plant: Look for: Circling or kinking roots Small top to root ratio A good trunk ktaper Good tree will bend Poor taper will remain straight Good branching habit Vigorous, healthy tree 7
When you purchase a container plant: How is it placed in the nursery? Soil on the sun exposed side of a pot can reach 120 F Temperatures of 104 F for 4 hours will kill the root tips of most plants Tip: Pick from the middle Transporting the Plant Protect the entire plant from wind exposure in the back of a pickup truck. Wrap with a tarp if possible Keep root ball cool and moist by watering or wrapping with a wet blanket or burlap. Root tips can die within one minute if exposed to the elements. Drive no more than 35 MPH if any part of the tree is not protected Rent a box truck if needed If you need to hold trees until planting Bare root Keep roots moist and tops cool Keep in dark, humid and cool place to keep from leafing out B & B or Containerized Close together in shade Protect containers or root balls from sun Keep them from wilting Mulch 8
Staking or Guying Trees Proper Staking or Guying of Trees Staking: What is the Purpose? Only recommended in windy areas A tree tied rigidly for too long develops no strength Movement of trees back and forth hdevelops stronger trunks 9
Problems with leaving staking on too long Staking needs to be removed within one year or they will girdle the tree Tree Protection Weed Wacker Disease Sun Scald Light colored tree wrap White latex paint Deer protection fencing Evergreens from winter desiccation After Planting Care Guying or Staking Only long enough to establish good rooting Approximately one season. Not more than one year Only necessary in windy areas Trunk kprotection ti Deciduous trees only, especially dark barked trees White latex paint, tree wraps, cardboard Apply wraps in September or October; remove in April Fertilizing Not the first season Unless deficiency 10
Watering End Questions? 11