part 2--it takes a community to plant a tree link below.

Here is a link that might be useful: part 2

At first I thought that was a video of how not to plant a tree.

That's funny. Those chickens act like my dogs wanting to investigate the planting hole.

I'm jealous of your soil. Especially how you can dig it with a shovel so easy.

Like butter!...I have to use a dang pick axe most the time!

Lots of patience needed to plant a tree with so many chickens in the middle of the planting hole you managed to dig.

Your patience really showed when you managed to not cut the feet or legs off any of the chickens that clustered so close to where you needed to dig.

I am wondering, though, about how deeply you planted that tree. Or might it simply be a situation where your soil could be so perfect of a texture that it allows enough oxygen to still get to the tree's roots, even with, what appeared to be the 4 or more inches of soil you piled above the trees's root flare.

I had to watch the video without audio (because of where I'm at), so maybe there was an explanation or discussion, but...

I noticed the hole was dug way too deep (and actually had to be filled back in before the tree was placed in the hole), the added soil in the bottom of the hole wasn't firmed before planting, possibly different soil was used for backfill (or maybe it was just native soil that had been broken up, I couldn't tell), the rootball wasn't examined for possible future girdling roots, and (as already mentioned) the tree was planted quite a bit too deep. Maybe the tree will overcome these problems and do well, but it sure has it's challenges to overcome. Trees shouldn't be planted this way.

Here is a link that might be useful: Planting a Tree or Shrub

Seramas, I didn't mean for my post to sound as gruff as it probably does. I'm just concerned about your tree!

Well, I thoroughly enjoyed the video and it brought a little joy in an otherwise dreary day. I got quite the chuckle (cackle?) when you lifted a scoop of dirt AND a chicken out of the hole. Chickens are neat -- and tasty.

Yes, he was planting too deep, but I don't think he intended to provide us with a "how to" video.

We bought this place 5 years ago. Nothing but hard pan clay with a couple gravel spots. Brought in many truck loads of Canadian Peat and Frac sand (used in the secondary recovery--oil wells--pour a bucket full on level ground and it will flatten out like water). After the heavy equipment was done we had 14" of top soil.

Catalpa trees are very forgiving. If they were planted 2' (foot) deeper than most other trees should-they simply will root to the soils surface like tomato plants do.

Brandon, if I planted these trees upside down in the hole they would grow. I know of someone that bulldozed a 20' catalpa over (flat) and covered it with fill 3' deep. That fall the same year he had a line 20' long of 3' tall sprouts.

These were 6" cuttings stuck into those pots in June of 2008, so being potted only about 16 months there were no root problems that one would get if they grew in the same pot 3-4 years.

The plan is to let them grow to 7' or so and top them and letting them produce many leads--every year cutting back to the main trunk. The older they get the fuller they become making seasonal shade in the chicken park.

ForGET about the tree planting procedures....those curious chickens were hilarious! It takes a herd of chickens to plant a tree! Who knew?

The below link is of some Cornish X meat birds I raised. They are usually crippled and dying of heart failure by 8-10 weeks old. I feed supplements and fortified home made probiotics fill yogurt that prevents many bird diseases and the supplements support bone/cardiovascular development. They usually lie around without standing and will starve before going 20' to get food or water. Theses are 14 weeks old and many dressed out at or near 17 pounds. No animal byproducts/medications/hormones were used.

Stand back away from the screen so you wonÂt get trampled!!

Here is a link that might be useful: Here they come!

It's a shame you're planning on topping the tree.
I hope someone can talk you out of doing that.

Isn't anyone going to talk him out of topping that tree?
Brandon? Anybody?

Don't do it!

Change your mind yet?

Haven't changes my mind. I have planted a total of 11 Catalpa speciosa (Northern Catalpa) at our main residence. The four planted in the chicken park will be topped. On the farm 25 years ago I've planted along the driveway near the house (the drive is 3/4 miles long) 75 of these and they are all topped. They look great; the trunks are about 38" around (last spring). They are trimmed back to the trunk each year. The new growth each year is about 8-10' and very thick. Everyone that sees them wants to plant some in their yards. There is probably 200 more growing about the farm. They become a massive tree-about 80-85' tall and in the open they spread to about 50' or so. They have a lot of dead branches falling whenever the wind blows and have a lot of holes for the owls, woodpeckers, wood ducks and other wildlife to nest in.

There is a large one growing near the farm house that we believe was the first one planted on the farm by the original owners some 120 years ago. It cost a small fortune to have a tree service to trim all the dead/undesirable branches each year. The trunk measures 22-1/2' around and some 85' tall--a beautiful sight. There was also an American Tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) near the barn that was 123' tall when it was hit by lightning and had to be cut down. It was way above all the trees anywhere in sight. It could be seen from 2-3 miles away. Most of the branches were in the top 1/4 of the tree. The stump was 13' across. I miss all the flowers-when they fell off the tree would cover the ground with a blanket of yellow. They made great mulch for the flower beds.

So don't be upset with me for topping these, they will be well cared for.