Planting Trees & Shrubs Handouts: Planting and Maintaining Trees 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 Et Extension office or to your local lnursery. 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
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 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
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 tblihfor 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
There are usually 3 ways to buy trees Bare root Balled in Burlap Burlap (Balled and Burlapped) (B & B) Containerized Planted in containers of various sizes and shrubs
Inexpensive Usually smaller in size than B&B and containerized Should not be leafing out (dormant) Very little (if any) soil around the roots Bare Root
Bare Root Transplant only when dormant (no leaves). Keep in a cool, dark and humid place until planting time Keep roots moist 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.
Planting a Bare Root Tree or Shrub
Correct Way to Plant a Bare Root Plant Soil mound allows roots to lay in a natural y 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 i root system is still intact t (from the field) Usually used to transplant larger trees
Balled in Burlap 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 withoriginal soil taken out of the planting hole. Remove any rocks or debris. dbi
How Big Should the Root Ball Be? Important Rule of Thumb : 1 foot of root bllf ball for each 1 of trunk diameter Measured at 6 to 12 off the ground Example: 4 diameter trunk = 4 root ball
Containerized Container Grown Usually most expensive Plant any time soil is not frozen You can lift containerized 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 plantingmethods, but be aware of circling roots! Butterfly or score the roots to prevent girdling roots t 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 taper Good tree will bend Poor taper will remain straight Good branching habit Vigorous, healthy tree
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 fromthe 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 aeroot 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 tcontainers ti or root bll balls from sun Keep them from wilting Mulch
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 develops stronger trunks
Problems with leaving staking on too long Staking needs to be removed within one year 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 Protection 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
Watering
Questions? End