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Saving trees planted too deep

2 years ago

last modified: 2 years ago

I'm having issues with this website so I had to upload the images externally. I've just started learning about trees and realised most of ours are planted deep and have compost volcanoes around them. Now I'm wondering whether I should uncover trunks to expose the flare or just leave them be as they've been like this for 5 years at least. Most trees don't seem to have issues except a few trees of shorter height that have their bark completely splitting and falling off (could be frost and sun too i guess).
https://pasteboard.co/Jr21RFL.jpg
https://pasteboard.co/Jr214N7.jpg

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Comments (12)

floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
2 years ago
Try putting the pictures in as a comment. That usually works.
Kerim Catovic
Original Author
2 years ago
I'd been trying but all I get is a blank page afterwards
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Bob, I'm not sure what your planting experience is, so will relay one of my simple basic rules to you just in case. If you choose to replant this tree, keep in mind to help keep your backfill slightly compacted. Otherwise, you will definitely experience resettling of the refill component soil sooner if not later. The first good watering is usually enuff to give a good hint towards the ultimate outcome. Just a few weighted heels of your boot/shoe as you go from layer to layer of backfill is usually sufficient. Sure, the developing roots of the new tree like a loose nit matrix for easy expansion, but some firmness in the hole is still usually quite a bit better than the undug soil surounding your dug out hole. Like the other posters here are basically saying, air pockets are not a good thing for several reasons actually. Just keep watch on the roots' placement or bundling up as you proceed along. If you eliminate the settling factor, you will also most likely eliminate these sorts of "whoopsey" replant prospects as well. Best wishes on all your future tree planting projects, ~q3~
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Agree with Hort. At this point the biggest problem is all those small roots above the root flare. Get rid of them by whatever means is required. Also since you tree has been planted for a year, the lose of these small roots probable won't significantly affect your tree. I personally would remove the extra soil, as even if you cut all the adventitious roots above the flare, they will tend to grow back if the excess soil remains there, very possible presenting the same problem at a later time. I assume this was a balled and burlaped tree? If however was a container tree, then I'm concerned above more girdling roots further down. Arktrees
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IMO, based on that picture, the tree should be pulled out, all of the roots above the flare need to be removed or pulled out and set below the root flare, and then the tree should be replanted with the actual root flare a couple inches above grade.
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Peonies like to be planted about 1-2 inches below the top of the ground surface. It maybe that you're using too much nitrogen based fertilizers, which gives you more foliage than bloom. Replant it with the eyes pointing upwards, amending the soil with bone meal, fish meal, aged and well-rotted manure, compost, blood meal, alfalfa meal etc. A combination of all above or 1 or 2 of them...... mostly a hand full of bone meal. Make sure you have a high middle number. Peonies normally prefer organic fertilizers, however, in the spring you can put a "bulb" fertilizer of about 10 10 10 " or a seaweed or fish based fertilizer about 1/2 foot away and around the crown of the peony. Most of the time, manures dumped onto the top of the your peony causes the crown to rot. Some people some times even dump rabbit manure on top of them but it is not a good practice. Too much fertilizer will cause it not to bloom also. Lastly;.... in a few of the northern areas, peonies are normally planted or moved in or after September unless they are potted prior. Then you can plant them any time. Gypsum or lots of compost will loosen up clay soil. Also, peonies don't like a lot of water or wet feet, make sure you have good drainage and at least 6 hours of sun. Let the foliage remain until September so that it can collect the sun, sugars and food storage to survive next year. Cut it back to the ground each year if its not a tree peony. Goood luck!
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
keep gently excavating.. until you find the root flare ...

i dont like the one that id smaller width where the soil was against it ..

ken
Kerim Catovic
Original Author
2 years ago
I don't like it either xD but I'm wondering if it's dangerous to expose that part now that autumn is coming
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
2 years ago
expose what part.. the root flare ...

it may be dead by spring.. if you dont .. whats to lose???

btw.. where are you ... big city name ...

usually fall is a great time to plant trees .. for most of us ... so why should little gentle excavation hurt??

ken
User
2 years ago
Not knowing your general location in the world makes it hard to give you an accurate answer.

Try reducing the size of your photos to around 1600 x height. Large photos don't load that well.

Your first photo your tree doesn't look very good and may as well be replaced. What kind are they?

Your second photo with the dark shadow makes it difficult to see what's going on.

Take some better pictures, shrink them down, so we can see better.

Thanks.
Kerim Catovic
Original Author
2 years ago
Uhh just realised my photos failed to go through
Kerim Catovic
Original Author
2 years ago
Kerim Catovic
Original Author
2 years ago
Kerim Catovic
Original Author
2 years ago
Kerim Catovic
Original Author
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Alright so the attempt no. 100 worked. I live underneath a mountain in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This specific tree is prunus cerasifera nigra. The tree was buried 9 inches above the flare and the height of the trunk is 6.5ft. Last year I purchased same trees from the same nursery and it looks to me as they bury the graft in soil. These trees are growing fine and show no struggle, but I'm trying to make sure it stays that way as some of our trees died from what seems to be the consequence of planting too deep and volcanoing with compost
User
2 years ago
Thanks for your effort!

About the only thing you can do is expose the root flares on the tree to a proper depth. This may involve adding a 'well' around a larger tree, if needed to lower the ground enough to do that.

A smaller, more recently planted tree can be dug and raised by placing soil underneath to reseat and raise the root flare.

This all should be done during the trees dormant season when the tree is not actively growing.

HERE's a video showing trees with a problem root flare issue (safe site).

Some trees may be too far gone to respond to raising the root flare, only time will tell over the next few seasons.

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