Central Keystone Living Spring 2017 - 37

Cages should be cut off as much as is practical. Set the plant
in the hole, snip around the cage on opposite sides at 12 and 6
o'clock and at 3 and 9 o'clock, then gently wriggle the pieces out.
Even peat pots should be removed. The goal is to encourage fast
and healthy root growth. Remove anything that gives the plant an
obstacle to growing roots.

Mistake No. 4:
Building a 'mulch volcano'
Everybody's seen it: mulch piled up around the base of a plant
to resemble a volcano. A tree's roots develop up high under the
mulch and these roots eventually girdle and choke the tree. Piling
mulch against the tree also keeps the stem moist and provides
entry for disease and pests. The correct method for mulching
is to add a maximum of 2-4 inches and keep it away from the
plant's stems or trunks.

Mistake No. 5:
Not watering adequately
Many B&B plants leave 75 percent or more of their roots in the
nursery, so don't let them dry out as they establish themselves.
According to the Morton Arboretum, new trees and shrubs need
about an inch of water through summer and fall or 2 inches in
sandy soils. Small amounts of water two to three times per week
are recommended over infrequent flooding.
Make the hole the right size; dig two to three times wider than the
root ball and only as deep as the root ball (you want the plant to
sit on solid ground, not on loose soil that may settle). Look for
circling (girdling) roots, which are common in container plants,
and loosen and spread out as many as possible.

Mistake No. 3:

Failing to cut away the burlap or planting cage
It's a misconception that burlap can stay in place because it decomposes. Unfortunately, the decomposition process doesn't
occur quickly. In the meantime, extra water is needed to saturate
the material and get to the root ball. Don't just push the burlap
down; cut away as much as possible once the plant is in the hole.
Remove natural or synthetic twine so it doesn't strangle the tree.

Topping damage on a mimosa.
Photo courtesy of Randy Cyr, Greentree, Bugwood.org.

Mistake No. 6:
Topping trees

An incorrectly planted tree with straps, basket and burlap in place.
Photo courtesy of Fred Kapp.

Say it aloud: Topping trees is never OK. According to the International Society of Arborculture, cutting off the top branches
removes the leafy crown. Leaves make the food, so removing
them forces multiple shoots to form below each cut. The new
growth is weak and prone to breakage. A stressed tree also is
more vulnerable to disease, insects and decay. If a tree needs to
be reduced in size, consult an arborist.
Continued on page 38.
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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Central Keystone Living Spring 2017