Severely compacted sandy soil in planting area of new small pines

15 years ago

We just had three pines (sylvestris Jeremy, densiflora Jane Kluis, parviflora Gimborns) planted by a nursery in the island in our driveway. Our entire site is sand, but I discovered the day after they planted these when I was trying to dig holes to add a couple of rose bushes near the pines, that this area is hard as a rock, apparently from all of the heavy trucks going back and forth over it while we were building.

I finally got the 2 holes dug, but after filling them to the top with water, the level had only dropped about 1-2 inches in about 6 hours. I forgot to check it this morning, and we were gone all day, but I just went out with a flashlight to look, and the bottom is muddy looking. Since it was sunny and about 84 today, I'm guessing that it took the ~12" deep and wide holes over 24 hours to drain.

We understand that pines must have good drainage, and don't like a lot of water. Although they were planted in a raised position, they must be sitting in a bowl that drains as slowly as the holes I dug. I assume that's harmful to them if we get heavy rains? My husband has ordered some of those watering bags to place around them, but will they be ok, and how often should we use them on the pines? If not ok, what should we do?

Would it help to drill holes with the post hole digger to break up some of the area around the pines? Do we have to remove the pines and dig up the entire area? That would be difficult and expensive both due to the size of the root ball on the Jane Kluis, and the small size of the island (teardrop shaped 9-1/2' x 25') that is surrounded by asphalt. But we don't want to lose the plants.

Suggestions from anyone who really knows pines, water requirements, and soils would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!

Anne

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Comments (9)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
PROPER WATERING SHOULD BE YOUR ONLY CONCERN ....

and the only secondary concern.. is your ability to NOT love them to death ....

pines thrive in MI .... put that part out of your head ...

proper watering means the ability to get water to the roots that were all cut off for transplant .... and then allowing them to nearly dry before watering again .. while avoiding.... them standing in water for extended periods of time ...

compared to our brethren who have clay .. you have great drainage .... even if some storm fills the hole.. full drainage within one day should be OK ....

my bigger concern might be blacktop in february ... my kids walk around out there in single digits temps without shoes on sunny days... because the blacktop is so warm .. relatively speaking .... it is not good when the dormant frozen trees roots are brought out of dormancy due to heating of the blacktop .... you may want to consider some burlap along the south side ... to shade the soil from winter sun ... perhaps a new post regarding such .. if no one else chimes in here ...

water properly ... deeply.. infrequently .... and nearly drying ... and you should be all set for summer and fall .. then start thinking about winter ....

you live in MI .. you have been up north .... once you get north of flint.. pines cover most of the rest of the state ... with little or no help from humans ... ergo.. the suggestion that you dont love yours to death ....

deal with the transplants issues .... and the tree will take care of the rest ....

good luck

ken
jimandanne_mi
Original Author
15 years ago
Ken, many thanks for your response! I may not have to be too concerned with watering in the short term, since it poured buckets yesterday, and is supposed to rain again today. I hadn't realized that 24 hour drainage is fast compared to clay, which I had lived with up until this year, but never did the water in the hole test for. So thanks for the assurance on that point.

To keep me from my usual over-watering tendency, my husband can be in charge of watering the evergreens, since he went bonkers over them after visiting Hidden Lake Gardens. Thanks for that suggestion in another thread; the specimens there are remarkable!!!

DH says the asphalt comment raises an interesting question which he will try to check out, although he doesn't think it will cause a problem for us.

I'm thinking about taking off the top 12" of hardened sand and putting topsoil for the other plants I want to put on the island (the 2 small rose bushes, some lavender, some Japanese blood grass, and some ground cover. But I'm wondering if that's a good idea for the pines. Would this cause their roots to stay in that surface layer instead of going deeper in search of water, and make them more susceptible to both drought and freezing problems?

Anne
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prostrata
15 years ago
yeah, heavily amending the soil around the pine (or any large tree for that matter) is not a good idea- it will impede root growth. I believe the pines you planted should grow fine in sandy soil. I believe that Michigan soil is home to some of the tallest pines in the world, so I don't think that you would have much to worry about.
I don't think amending the soil for roses or perennials should be a problem.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
just get a stout pitchfork ... and start jumping on it.. and wedging it back... loosing the soil ... see link ... cant imagine any reason to have to mail order it .... any bigboxstore will have them ... plastic handles tend to break ... i would upgrade to a metal/wood handle ....

do it now.. again in fall .. again when the soil thaws ... you should be all set for spring planting ....

ken

Here is a link that might be useful: forks
Embothrium
15 years ago
Don't jump on it, it may damage your feet.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
good point bboy ...

when i dig.. i wear hard soled boots..

not flops.. not rubber.. etc ...

ken
jimandanne_mi
Original Author
15 years ago
Thank you all for your responses. (Nice pitchfork!)

Since the downpour yesterday, the compacted sand was soaked and much easier to work with today. I was able to plant everything else with some extra effort using the shovel. What a difference from when it was dry! I'll just have to remember to only work in that part of the yard when the soil is wet, even if I have to soak it myself.

Anne
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
15 years ago
in my ALL MINERAL SAND SE MI garden ....

in july/august .... sand is known as concrete ...

you just learned a valuable lesson ... saturated sand is easy to dig in ...

keep this in mind ... while you try to maintain PROPER WATERING of your new plants .... it takes a slow trickle to insure that water is getting into the root zone.. when trying to water cement ...

this might not be important this year.. since .. in planting.. you fluffed it all up ...

it might become very important next season.. when you will still be responsible for all water ...

ken
Embothrium
15 years ago
Applying and maintaining 4 inch deep mulch after planting may reduce subsequent compaction noticeably. Keep it off the stems.

Severely compacted sandy soil in planting area of new small pines

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

jimandanne_mi
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Severely compacted sandy soil in planting area of new small pines

Comments (9)

ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

jimandanne_miOriginal Author

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prostrata

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jimandanne_mi
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