I would bet you'll be ok, especially if some settling does occur again.

By above trade am I correct in assuming you raised the whole planting area by the 3-4 inches? Something like a 18 inch circular hill they're on? Assuming so while the fellas are smaller it might not hurt to pay some extra attention to how fast the mini-hill they're planted on dries out. COULD BE a bit faster than the soil level at grade.

Think a mole might have gotten under them? I've never planted 20 at once so if it were me I might not pack the soil back as firmly in each hole. Who knows.

yes, actually they have about a 3 foot mulch circle around them that slowly tapers to grade. it's just that the crown that I would want at about 1" above grade is now 3-4" above.

i know i'm being anal about it, but i don't want big problems down the line.

i think what happened, when we planted, was primarily caused by the fact the clay was dray and hard, so when we busted it up and watered, we didn't wait for settling long enough. when you get that many saplings at once -- well we were probably rushing :-(

if they don't settle back down, i'd probably worry they were gong to end up weak or have frankentree root crowns

a lot of peeps who garden in clay actually plant on small berms.. to increase drainage ... so siting high is not an issue...

what is an issue is the words you used ...

there is a proper planting depth involving the interface between the roots and the trunk .. trunks do NOT go in soil...

if it is planted at the proper interface level ... no matter high or low ... it will be fine ....

if the roots are exposed.. or the trunk buried... then you might have big problems ....

in my sand.. i often plant in what amounts to a moat.. so i can lay down proper water ... but i ALWAYS insure that the tree is planted properly..

does that make sense??

good luck

ken

PS: once you dig a hole.. and loosen a large area of clay... step into the center.. and re-compact the soil structure where teh tree will sit ... so that they DO NOT SINK ... then create a cone of soil.. upon which you will spread the roots and backfill appropriately.. without compacting the surrounding clay significantly ... in other words.. plant them properly and avoid the issue in toto ..

I would think your trees will be fine. I have clay soil, and most of my trees (not bare root but containerized in 1-15 gallon size) were planted on small berms typically 4' or so across, and as much as 8+" above grade. They are doing VERY well. So don't really think you will have a problem from this. On a side note in case you don't know, your American Smoke Tree Cotinus obovatus is much better off on the dry side as that is their natural habitat. To wet for too long, and they typically get root disease that is often fatal.

Arktrees

3-4" is just fine. Right in the range when folk think of 'planting proud'.

Dan

thanks all. i probably second guess things too much as a new home owner / tree planter. i've got so many growing it's a bit overwhelming. i never thought they'd all live through the first year, lol

(our home is built on what was once a cotton field, so sadly the only trees are what grew along the old property borders. i'm creating a mini forest here, i hope)

Planting high is normal in North Alabama, home of red clay soil. Be sure to mulch the trees properly. By that I mean to add a WIDE skirt of coarse organic material in a 3 to 4 inch layer around the tree. Do NOT pile any against the trunk.

Just so you know...and can feel better about your trees...I've learned to stop fearing this clay soil. As long as you are planting in an area that drains well (yes, clay soil does drain), you should be as pleasantly surprised as we have been.

So hurry up and plant more trees! I hate seeing those harsh, bare cotton field developments! The trees will add so much.

What is the saying at our local nursery as a general guideline when planting trees?

If I remember correctly...

Plant a tree too high, it'll never die.
Plant a tree too low, it'll never grow.