How long does it take for trees to come out of shock from planting?

5 years ago

Hi I know you all told me that I shouldn't plant trees in the summer but I can't help myself I must have a weeping birch and a london plane tree in my yard. How long does it take for them to get out of shock from being planted?

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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

5 years ago

Transplant shock describes a series of stresses a plant may undergo when being physically moved. In nature, growing plants do not move from place to place :-) They adapt and respond to their current environment, both above and below the ground. When that environment is changed - and often rather radically - they respond to the change by being stressed until they can readapt. And the larger and older the plant, the more difficult it may be to readapt and the longer it may take.

So when you dig up a plant that has been growing happily and peacefully in one environment and move it somewhere else, chances are very good it is going to react to that disturbance in some way. Even plants that have been grown all their life in a container will still experience some sort of stress/shock when they are taken from the container and planted in the ground - different soils, some inevitable root disturbance, often different lighting characteristics, temperature changes, climate variations, wind exposure and moisture availability, etc. That's a lot of changes a plant needs to adapt to and that can take time.

You will lessen the stresses involved in planting and transplanting by removing or reducing those changes as much as possible. That is why transplanting or planting while dormant or not in active growth can result in minimal stress/shock. Plant metabolism while dormant is at its lowest point and all the biological functions are on 'hold', so the plant has time to get used to the new setting before it responds to its seasonal clock and starts to grow.

Minimizing these factors during the prime growing season - like right now - is much harder to do. Root issues have already been addressed by other responders.....in most cases, you are dealing with a compromised root system that needs sufficient time to re-establish itself and that will be dependent on all the other factors mentioned: age of the plant/amount of root disruption, time of year/growing cycle, soils, moisture availability, climate (heat, humidity), sunlight, wind, etc. If all these changes are not adequately addressed, transplant shock can last an extended period of time resulting in stresses that the plant may not be able to overcome.....it could die! OTOH, if these changes are taken into consideration and properly addressed as much as possible, then the transplant shock may be minimal or very short term.

FWIW, planting a decent sized tree of any variety now in Utah is going to present all of these factors in abundance so the chances of transplant shock - and even severe transplant shock - is extremely likely. It would be a bit surprising for a tree to respond positively to this process at all this season and you might not see any signs of recovery until the next growing season. And unless you are extremely careful, you may not see any sign of recovery at all and the tree could die.

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Comments (9)

Smivies (Ontario - 5b)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
sigh...a summer planted tree doesn't experience 'shock', it experiences water stress at a time of year when water demand is highest and soil moisture is lowest, especially in and around the root ball you just plunked into the ground (even if watered). It's also the time of year (other than winter) when root growth is slowest.

A transplanted tree (field dug up then replanted) in summer is a little different. It has just lost a large % of its roots and it takes time to initiate new root tips....again at a time when water demand is highest, soil moisture and root growth are lowest. It depends on the genus/species with long that process takes.

You don't want a lot (or any) new above ground growth initiating at this time of year anyway (for northern Utah) otherwise it'll get killed over winter.

....growing trees is probably the wrong hobby for someone whose immediacy is apparent in every post.
L Clark (zone 4 WY)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
What is "transplant shock"? Physically what happens when a tree transplant shocks? I've had a weeping birch, freeman maple, honeycrisp apple, crab apple and a sycamore (this is my current experiment tree) just look like crap for a month immediately after planting and lose 60% of their leaves and then magically snap out of it and be perfectly fine. All trees were potted. I'm almost certain the soil moisture was kept as close to perfect as possible for each one. What's up with this phenomenon?
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Hello! I'm sorry. I admit I got too desperate. And thank you for the reply (: I'm new here so no idea how this place works. I thought probably I was never going to get a response. Yes the soil doesn't look right to me either. My gardener potted it in that. The soil is water retaining and fine-grained. And yes, the pot has got drain holes, and I keep emptying the water tray. I'll change the soil, and repot it. And what sort of pot should I use? The current one is a plastic one. Should I replace it with a clay one when I repot it? And is the pot size okay or should I get a bigger one? Thank you so much! Was really helpful! ^_^ P.S: I live in India. And hey, I'm also worried about those white marks you see on the leaf surface. Are they water marks or some disease?
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
5 years ago
a tree is said to be 2 to 3 times as large.. below ground .. as what you see above ground.. they are 'fully established' ... when they grow the requisite root mass .. to support whatever you see above ... at planting ...

ken
User
5 years ago
Yes and the tree can take up to a couple of years to regrow that requisite mass.

That's why transplanted trees don't grow a lot above the ground for a couple years after transplanting, until the root mass has enough stored energy to push out new and meaningful top growth. :-)
dbarron
5 years ago
Dare I say I would call it folly to plant any sizeable tree (beyond sub 5 gallon potted grown stock) at this time of year?
L Clark (zone 4 WY)
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
you explain stuff so well, GG. Thanks!

I will chime in, though. The only things I've ever had die on me were things I've planted in the fall, so September. I've heard from a few city workers and tree guys here and in Cheyenne that fall is the worst time to plant. Middle of the summer is better here. And I agree. This is mainly because fall is so cold/nonexistent here. There's no time for roots to re grow or the tree to begin to establish. So depending on exactly where the OP is in northern Utah (climates can vary extraordinarily), Bear lake? Get that tree in the ground now, SLC? might be good to wait out some of the heat. It might have been the best thing to get the trees in the ground now, but since we know next to nothing, who knows??
gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
5 years ago
Or wait to plant until spring :-)
User
5 years ago
I agree Lane. Location makes the most difference. I just had a report of some Red pine saplings planted late September last fall, that all failed this spring. I planted the same trees from the same location in early September and had wonderful success rate at 100%.

Different years make a difference up here. Sometimes July and August is near 90's and no rains everyday. This morning I woke up to 56d with heavy dew on the plants and grass. We're only supposed to hit around 69d today with 55d again tonight. And we've had some rain every week or so with more forecast this weekend. So as long as one can supply water to the transplants, there's really no other stress to consider around here. The sun is not as big of a factor with partly to mostly cloudy skies and the cool temps we've been having. Feels fall like now! :-)

How long does it take for trees to come out of shock from planting?

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)

Comments (9)

Smivies (Ontario - 5b)

L Clark (zone 4 WY)

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

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