How do you plant trees????

[Junkman]

The wife wanted some flowering trees, so off to the nursery we go this after noon. A couple hours later, I have 3 big trees on my trailer and my wallet looks like a limp noodle having the last $$'s wrung out of it. I have planted trees in the past, but on the way home, the wife shows me these nicely manicured lawns that have trees that appear "elevated" and mounded bases. What are the tricks that the landscapers use to get this "desired" effect that the wife wants? I am from the old school, you dig the hole, put water into it and then the tree. Backfill and you are done.
The trees have a root ball in the neighborhood of 30" - 36"..... /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

 

[OkeeDon]

You plant the trees the old school way, then you carve away all the land around them. Just joking. It's a good question.

 

[RobertN]

My first recomendation is to check with your local University extension office. They should have specific information for planting in your area. In our area, we have an University of Calif extension office in the County Ag office. There is a wealth of info there.

I do not know of the need for the "mounding". Here are some data points from the Calif Landscape Standards...

" Plant holes should be excavated to a minimum two times(2x) the diameter of the root ball, and 1-1/2 times the height of the root ball. The sides of the holes should be scarcified if glazing occurs during excavation(like using a power auger). Each plant should be placed in the hole at such a depththat, after the soil has settled, the top of the roobal will be slightly above the surrounding soil, to avoid water accumulation at the crown of the plant. Basins should be constructed to allow retention of 2" minimum water over the top of the rootball.

Trees should be staked to keep them in an upright position and hold hem erect, WHILE allowing the tops and trunks to flex with the wind. "

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[Gatorboy]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( the wife shows me these nicely manicured lawns that have trees that appear "elevated" and mounded bases. )</font>

If you want healthy trees, you will avoid this practice.

Here are some tips on Planting a tree:

<ul type="square">
[*] You should leave the top of root ball level with surrounding soil. No soil should be placed on top of the root ball.
[*] Dig hole as deep as root ball but twice as wide.
[*] Don't fertilize at planting time.
[*] Remove grass to create a mulch ring that is 2 feet in radius per 1 inch of trunk diameter. Apply mulch 2 to 3 inches deep. Increase the size of the circle of mulch until the tree is established. This technique will help a tree establish quickly by reducing competition from other plants, especially grass. <font color="red">Keep mulch 2 to 3 inches away from tree trunks to prevent moisture from initiating bark decay. Do not mound mulch in thick piles around the trunk. </font>
[/list]

 

[Bob_Skurka]

I agree with GATORBOY but I ususally dig the holes at least twice as deep as the rootball and then refill the bottom of the hole with a mixture of compost and soil so that when I set the rootball on top of the mixture I put in, the top of the rootball is level with the ground. Mulch is kept a few inches away from the tree bark.

I usually dig holes with a 12" auger bit on a PHD. I will drill 3 or 4 holes adjacent to each other and collapse the walls, any dirt in the hole is broken up by the auger and easy to scoop out with a spade. The dirt that comes out is easy to mix with the compost because the auger does a great job of breaking it up. We have a high clay content and using a backhoe to plant a tree ends up with big scoops of clay coming out that must be broken up before I can mix in any compost. For my soil conditions, the PHD is easier for tree planting than using the BH; I'm sure people with sandy or loamy soils would find the BH easier?

 

[_RaT_]

I go with Robert's recomendation. Digging a hole too deep and filling it with organic matter that will decacy and potentially drop the tree deeper in the hole risks putting the crown below the soil. It has been shown that putting the crown below the soil stunts a tree's growth by years provided it doesn't suffer from crown rot. Adding a mixture of compost makes us all feel good, but the tree will be sending roots immediately out into the native soil. If you look at planting augers, they are large diameter, not deep. My advice is do as Robert suggests. It's the way we plant the thousands of fruit and nut trees here in California, after all, we come from the land of fruits and nuts and we have lots of them. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

After planting a tree, provide compost on top to not only slow the evaportation of mositure, but to help keep the roots cool.

 

[coachgrd]

I used to work for a tree farmer when I was in HS. One trick he taught me when transplanting (don't know if this applies to you) is to tag a branch b/f taking the tree out. Note which direction it was facing (North, South, East or West) and make sure when you re-plant facing the same direction. He claimed it lessened the shock of the transplanting. Just happened to think of that when I read your post.

 

[Richard]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( re-plant if that it is facing the same direction )</font>

I'm in trouble /forums/images/graemlins/blush.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

we just got done transplanting about 15 trees (pics out to developer)

One conscious choice I made, was to notice how the branches seemed to be more prominant on one side of tree (side facing sun) and I turned tree "away" from sun when transplanted using the logic that it will help develop THAT side of the tree and might help make it fill out more.

Hmm...

I guess I'll find out soon enough

 

[coachgrd]

I think you'll be just fine Richard. This gentleman's method might be a bit of overkill, but who knows. I've planted many a tree since w/o knowing the direction it faced and they have grown well. Then again, I've had many die too!

Gary

 

[coachgrd]

It's the way we plant the thousands of fruit and nut trees here in California, after all, we come from the land of fruits and nuts and we have lots of them.

RaT:
That was good, loved it. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif