proper tree planting?

[macrocarpa]

I've had 2 reputable nurseries both say leave the wire basket and burlap on the tree when planting. I've always cut as much of the wire and burlap off as possible. What do you guys think???

 

[simplyarbor]

I cut all wire off for sure. Depending on burlap and how the roots look, I usually place in planting hole, backfill a little to stabilize, then peel back the burlap about halfway down the ball and cut. Mind you, this is only on natural burlap, not the synthetic stuff.

 

[oldoakman]

Take it off, probe with a surveyors pin to find the top most root and be certain that it is within 2" of the top of the root ball, and use a mycorhizia starter pack. We are in the final phase of a streetscapes project that has included approximately 160 6"cal+ nuttall oaks planted in two phases. Three different contractors were used in the project. Contractor 1 in phase 1 had 30% mortality. contractor 2 in phase 1 had about 43% mortality. Neither of the first two contractors removed baskets although they did remove burlap from the top of the ball, and granted, both plantings occurred very late in the planting season and were followed by extremely hot and dry summers. Contractor 2 did water weekly throughout the summer and ended watering in November. Contractor 3 has had 0 mortality. They have had the benefit of a cooler and wetter than normal summer. They removed the baskets and burlap completely and used mycorhizia. Personally I hate to have to go back and re-do a less than acceptable job and would much rather spend a few ore $ and time doing it right. Researchers in our university's work hard to do the research and we pay top dollar to go to conferences to get the latest info on how to do the best job, and then we try to short cut ourselves. Doesn't make any sense to me at all.

 

[jmcscrap]

[ QUOTE ]
Researchers in our university's work hard to do the research and we pay top dollar to go to conferences to get the latest info on how to do the best job, and then we try to short cut ourselves. Doesn't make any sense to me at all.

[/ QUOTE ]

One of the most true and exacting quotes I have seen on here in a long time - excellent point!!

 

[macrocarpa]

When I research I find most sources recommend taking it off:

http://www.arborday.org/trees/planting/balled-burlapped.cfm

Which makes me wonder why would nurseries say to leave it on? Maybe because in the short term (1 year warranty) the tree would be less likely to dry out while in the burlap, but long term problems could occur down the road?

Thanks for the replies

 

[nuthin_special]

Definitely take off as much cage as possible after the tree has been placed in the hole and remove as much burlap as possible. How could leaving them on be at all beneficial?

One nursery here always leaves the baskets, burlap and twine on, they say the tree is more stable in the hole and doesn't require any supports.

Tree planting is something that we reluctantly offer. The most aggravating and least profitable part of our business.

v

 

[flyingsquirrel25]

Take it off... Take it all off... I cannot see anyway that leaving it would help out at all. The attached image is of an ash in Toronto. That basket it really rusting away

 

[oldoakman]

Thanks jmcscrap. Appreciate the Kudo.

 

[cerviarborist]

http://hort.ufl.edu/woody/bb.shtml

The nuts and bolts of the findings are that if the burlap is synthetic, as much of it should be removed as practical at installation.

Regular copper treated burlap should be removed from the top of the root ball at planting, to allow water to easily infiltrate to the root ball beneath, but unless the climate is very arid with less than 20" of annual rainfall, regular burlap can be left on the sides and bottom of the root ball, with the expectation that it will degrade and go away.

Removal of the wire basket is not recommended, aside from the top portion, and then not until a year after planting, if it can be arranged, otherwise carefully remove only the top of the wire basket. Leaving the basket intact at planting often means the tree will not need to be staked or guyed during establishment, whereas removal of the basket makes the need for guying and staking much more probable.

 

[Waldo]

Do you leave the plastic on your phone when you buy it? Everywhere else we take the packaging off of the products that we buy. why is it not the same for trees? burlap and baskets are on there for transportation. take the packaging off.

 

[guymayor]

ANSI: top 1/3 should be removed.

I've often seen burlap at edge of rootball create air pockets that prevent establishment.

Engulfed wire cannot help the tree, but it's much more important to get rid of the other packaging.

 

[ward]

another fun stump grinding job.

someone somewhere is going to have to deal with the basket. Don't see the point in leaving on

 

[Tree_Frog]

I get a lot of work doing root crown excavations on some of the 10,000 plus trees that are planted too deep in my area. If it was a b&b the basket is still there but the burlap is gone. The synthetic string is usually girdling roots or the trunk. The tree is usually 5 plus years after planting when showing decline or secondary pest infestation.

I would recommend that you remove as much as possible and stake as necessary. These baskets just like to linger. Even in Florida where we get a whole bunch of rain.

Attached is a link to my website where I removed the top of the basket 10 years after planting.

http://tfesllc.com/services/root_inspection__root_restoration#Next