Written by Admin and published on https://blog.davey.com/

Trees and other plants react similarly to stress. A tree that has been previously impacted by poor nutrition, compacted soils, drought, or other factors are much more susceptible to disease and insects than healthy, well-maintained trees. Of the cultural stresses that impact a tree’s health, deep planting and over-mulching are two of the most common and most injurious. It’s heartbreaking to have an attractive young tree in your landscape begin to decline. When you examine the trunk, you may see bark at the base peeling off, splitting, or generally looking unhealthy, which usually means one thing—the tree has been planted too deeply.

It’s a problem not often thought about, but in some circumstances, you may be dealing with the issue of having a tree that is planted too deep. Depending on how old the tree is, it may be an easily fixable problem. Here’s an overview of the situation:

Take a close look at your trees.

Do they look happy? The trunk probably looks relatively strong and free of obvious damage. Leaves might even look fairly full and lush.

Now, take a really good look and ask yourself: “If something was wrong with my trees deep down, would I be able to tell minus the obvious signs?”

You might have to conduct a “deeper” investigation into their condition, if you will. Are your trees screaming for a little “air?” Can you guess the “root” of their problem?

If you haven’t figured it out yet, my puns refer to one of the biggest problems of tree installation: planting trees too deeply. In fact, 80 percent of all tree problems can be attributed to their soil environment.

PROBLEMS WITH TREES PLANTED TOO DEEP AND SOLUTIONS TO FIX

Planting a tree is a relatively quick and simple process. But how much effort you put into it can have a lifelong effect. It can cause a tree to fail very quickly, limiting its existence. But, usually, shortcutting the planting process can cause the tree to struggle for many years, never reaching its full benefits potential in the landscape. And all the while, you are unaware that your tree is crying out for help.

Planting a tree right in the first place is the goal. Paying attention to the details in this process can mean a healthier, more vigorous and successful tree that will add multiple and growing benefits to your landscape for years to come.

The mistake of planting a tree too deeply isn’t always readily apparent at the time of installation, but the long-term effects of it are substantial. When buried too deeply, tree roots decline in health and condition. And poor tree roots mean reduced tree growth and leaf size and color, decreased cold hardiness, and increased disease and insect susceptibility. Sometimes trees show these problems right away in the first year after planting, but usually the problem emerges after a few years when it becomes more challenging to fix.

HOW DEEP SHOULD TREES BE PLANTED?

To understand how to plant trees right, one has to understand their roots. For tree roots to grow vigorously, they require water, oxygen and warmth. As a result, they grow shallowly in the soil. When roots are buried too deeply, less oxygen and warmth are available.

Ideally, plant trees so their root flare (where the trunk starts to bulge out at the bottom) is level with or slightly above the soil surface.

To dig a hole that is the right depth for your tree, measure from the bottom of the root ball to the beginning of the tree’s root flare. Now, dig a hole that deep and situate the root flare at the right level. Want to see step-by-step what this process looks like? Watch this video on how to dig a deep enough hole. The section on planting a tree at the right depth starts at 1:30 if you want to skip ahead!

SYMPTOMS OF TREES PLANTED TOO DEEP – AND HOW TO FIX A TREE PLANTED TOO DEEP OR LOW

To spot a poorly planted tree, look for a trunk that is going straight into the ground like a pole. Signs of trees suffering as a result of deep planting include girdling or fewer roots; yellowing, undersized or fewer leaves; and stunted height.

You may be able to remedy buried trees by replanting them at the proper height or removing excess soil from the tree’s root flare. Replanting is more successful on trees planted in the past two to three months, while removal of excess soil via a process called root crown excavation that uses compressed air to prevent injury is better for established plants.

Original post here https://lineagetreecare.com/tree-service/10-signs-your-tree-needs-pruning/.

Tap for free quote