Dallas Morning News – September 4, 2018
Poor Tree Planting Points
Although trees can be planted year round, the optimal time (fall) is around the corner. Let’s look at my recommendations from a different angle today – what things should not be done when planting your new trees.
Mistake #1
– Not establishing the true top and height of the root ball. Whether balled and burlapped (B&B) or containerized, there is almost always excess soil on top of the true ball that needs to be completely removed. Assuming the growers and nurseries have the plant at the correct height is almost always untrue. Once the true ball height has been determined, measure it so the planting hole can be dug to right height.
Mistake #2
– Planting the tree in a small smooth-sided hole. Commonly heard bad instruction is to dig the planting hole the same depth and width as the root ball. Truth is that the planting hole should be about three times wider than the root ball and have rough, not smooth sides.
Mistake #3
– Backfilling with foreign soil. Backfill should be what came out of the hole – nothing else. Thinking that “better” soil such as sandy loam or soil amendments help is wrong. Roots will grow easily into the loosened soil and not be shocked as they grow into the surrounding soil. Mycorrhizal fungus products are good to add. They speed up root grow but don’t change the basic makeup of the soil.
Mistake #4
– Staking trees for no reason and/or the wrong way. Most staking is a waste of money. Correctly planted trees behave themselves and stay in place without staking of any kind. For wobbly and weak trees or in excessively windy places or conditions, staking can be used temporarily, but should be loose instead of rigid and attached low on the trunk so the tree can still move with the wind helping to build trunk diameter and strength. This occasional staking should never be left on trees more than one growing season.
Mistake #5
– Thinning the tops of trees at planting. Removing a percentage of top growth to compensate for root lost during the digging is not helpful. Trees in containers have no root loss – they are all in the container and properly managed B&B trees will establish and grow better with all their top growth preserved. When newly planted trees start to grow, their energy will first be used to regrow limbs that have been removed. It is okay to remove damaged or unwanted branches but that’s basically a cosmetic treatment.