ufb tree planting
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Tree Planting AdviceTRANSCRIPT
Trees and Shrubs Jeremy Weber
Butte-Silver Bow Extension Agent Spring 2012 Master Gardener
Powell County
Outline Why we plant trees
Aesthetic, psychological, economic benefits Environmental benefits, energy savings
How we plant trees Planning Green side goes up
Take care of your trees, stupid! Pruning
Why We Plant Trees
Visual Characteristics (The Stuff Your Neighbors Notice) Bark Flowers Branch Habit Foliage Fruit and Seed Seasonal interest
Why We Plant Trees
PSYCHOLOGICAL Greenscape reduces stress and ADHD symptoms
Arbor Day Foundation: More urban trees correlated with lower crime rates
ECONOMIC Pride of place
Tree care = Grant funding Reduce stormwater load
People enter stores more frequently and spend more in commercial districts with more trees
Why We Plant Trees
Environmental Reduced stormwater
runoff Improved water
quality Erosion control Air quality (filter
particulate matter, reduce carbon)
Why We Plant Trees
Energy Savings – reduce heating/cooling costs Shade buildings, cool by transpiration in summer Windbreak in winter
Visual Characteristics (The stuff your neighbors notice)
Bark Flowers Branch Habit Foliage Fruit and Seed Seasonal Interest
Bark
The outer covering of the trunk and branches of a tree, usually corky, papery or leathery.
Flowers
Branch Habit
Branch = a natural subdivision of a plant stem
Foliage
Fruit and Seed
Fruit = the fully developed ovary of a flower, containing one or more seeds
Seasonal Interest
Uses in the Landscape
Frame Background Corner Plantings Screen Shade
Windbreak Specimen Traffic
Direction Stopping
Corner Plantings
Screen
Shade
Windbreak
Specimen
The center of attention A focal point Used sparingly
Traffic
Plan Well – BEFORE You Plant
“Know What’s Below”
It’s the law
Plan Ahead
Anticipate Problems
Plan Ahead
Like a puppy…
…consider the size of the mature tree.
Plants should be placed one-half of their mature
spread and height from existing physical items
Or the mature size ÷2 = the distance to plant
away from buildings, houses, etc.
Right Tree, Right Place!
Right Tree, Right Place!
Right Tree, Right Place!
Trees have many shapes to fit (or not fit) many spaces
Understanding Roots
About 85% of a
tree’s roots are
within the top
18 inches of soil
(75% in top 8” – 10”)
Understanding Roots
Roots can spread 2 X
the height of the tree
in one direction from
the trunk
(or 1 ½ - 3 X the
dripline)
Planting
Planting = The act of placing plants (or plant parts) in the soil to encourage them to grow
Key phrase: “Go wide, not deep”
Types of Planting Stock
Bare Root Handle in dormant
condition Best for deciduous
plants PROTECT ROOTS
FROM DRYING! Keep wrapped and
moist Inspect and remove
damaged roots Best planted in
spring
Containerized
Pot of plastic or metal
Should have well-developed root system in container
Keep well watered in container
Can plant throughout growing season
Balled – and – Burlapped
Best if dormant, but in leaf OK Keep soil ball
moist Protect foliage
from wind Spring/Fall best
planting time –okay in summer
How large should the root ball be?
Rule of Thumb #1: 10” – 12”of root ball for each 1” of trunk diameter
Measured at 6” to 12” off the ground
Example: 4” diam. trunk = 3 ½’ – 4’ root ball
Rule of Thumb #2: A tree takes one year to establish for each inch of
trunk diameter
How to Plant: Find the Root Flare The root flare
(trunk flare, root crown) should be visible at the surface
The place where the top-most root originates from the trunk will be just below this point
How to Plant: The Planting Hole Should be 2-3 X wider
than the spread of roots but no deeper.
Roots should rest on undisturbed soil (to avoid settling)
Replace soil and gently tamp.
WATER IT IN!
How to Plant
Let professionals handle the big ones
Planting B
lueprint
How to Plant
How to Plant – Mulching
Place 2-3 inches around tree.
Do not mound the mulch against the trunk.
Do not use solid black plastic under landscape rock or mulch – limits air and water to roots
How to Plant – Mulching
Right WRONG!
How to Plant – Tree Wrap
Sometimes applied to trees with thin bark to protect against sunscald and frost crack
Apply when the leaves drop in fall
Remove when leaves appear in spring
How to Plant – Root Pruning Girdling Roots
Pruning
Why do we prune trees?
Pruning
Removes dead, diseased, and broken branches
Pruning
Stimulates fruit and flower development
Pruning
Decreases danger of personal injury and property damage
Pruning
When to prune? If a tree or shrub flowers before the end of June,
prune immediately after flowering. Flower buds form after flowering Pruning done before flowering removes buds
If the tree or shrub flowers after June 30, prune during dormancy or immediately before the new growth starts. Flower buds form beginning in early spring
Pruning
When to prune? Evergreens can be
pruned any time of year when the wood is not frozen, but fall is best
Pruning
Every pruning cut is a wound Wounds allow infestation/infection/rot
TREES DON’T HEAL. THEY SEAL.
Compartmentalization Of Decay In Trees = CODIT
Pruning
Prune only deciduous trees at planting (minimal pruning)
At about 2 years: establish good branch spacing
Goal: develop strong scaffold branch system Select wide crotch angles, branches spaced well
around tree and vertically
Pruning
Establish alternate and radial branching early
Pruning
Do NOT remove the central leader
Pruning
Remove branches with a narrow crotch
Optimal attachment angle is 45º - 90º
Adapted from USDA Forest Service
Pruning
In short, do not leave stubs.
Pruning
Formal Hedges
Planting
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
Pruning
Topiary
Know when to call a professional
Know when to quit
What not to do
Don’t leave
tree wrap on too long
This is damage from borers harbored under the wrap during the growing season
What not to do
What not to do
What not to do
No root flare: planted too deep
How to Fix It
This tree was 8” too deep in the
root ball The top of the root ball was removed, and the tree was planted at the proper depth.
What not to do Pollarding Topping
What not to do
What not to do
Lion-tailing
What not to do
Resources
International Society of Arboriculture (ISA) www.isa-arbor.com
National Arbor Day Foundation www.arborday.org