How to choose healthy trees
Treeless cities would be horrible. They would be hot, shadowless, soulless and very boring. I love trees, they provide color, interest, a sense of belonging, a sense of scale, and just generally just great! Trees are often planted for the next or even the next generation, as many of them can take decades to mature. Choosing a healthy tree is really important because it could live for hundreds of years. If you plant a damaged specimen, in the future, it will cost you money, cause complaints, and set back the development of a garden canopy by years.
A healthy tree is one that has no major injuries, has shiny green leaves, no unusual growth, is robust, has good U-shaped branch unions, does not have infesting pests, does not ooze liquids or sugars, and generally looks good. When you look up at the canopy, it should block most of the sky. If you can see large amounts of blue then it could be a sign that you are stressed. Stress can be from possums and other wildlife eating the leaves, lack of water from drought, too much water from flooding, or caterpillars and insects eating the leaves. There are also many diseases that could be attacking it or the tree is aging, nearing the end of its natural life. Also be sure not to confuse autumn leaf drop with the thinning of the canopy of a diseased tree.
When purchasing a new tree from a nursery, you have the right to take the tree off display and walk around it, checking for broken branches, wounds, or any other defects. If you find any, don’t buy that particular specimen. Also look at how long the plant has been in the pot. If the roots are sticking out of the bottom, the potting mix looks dull and lifeless, and there are weeds growing in it, it’s very likely that this plant has been in the nursery for more than 12 months and probably has roots attached. This is not a good specimen to buy.
Rooted trees are those in which the roots have grown round and round and round on themselves in the pot and will continue to do so when planted. This is a problem because as they mature there is no root system to anchor them to the ground. A gust of wind can knock you over and do a lot of damage to you and any buildings you land on. To prevent this, it is always important to remove the roots of potted trees before planting.
Understanding the root system of a tree
There are two types of roots: structural and feeder. Structural roots are what anchor the tree to the ground and can be as thick as your forearm or thigh. Feeder roots are delicate, absorb water and nutrients, are white, only live for a day or two, and are constantly being replaced. They are located at the end of the root system. They get damaged very easily. Roots generally grow laterally and can sometimes follow a structural root for many meters. You often see this when you hike in the bush and it’s fun trying to see where it goes. It is very, very important that you do not prune any structural roots because you can inadvertently create an unstable tree.
How to tell if a young tree is firmly anchored in the ground.
The Burnley method devised at Burnley College Melbourne, is a simple test to see if the sapling (sapling) has established a good root system. This is a test for a tree that has been in the ground for several years. Stand in front of the tree, place both hands on the trunk in front of you, and see that you can rock the trunk. If you can feel it moving in the ground and/or see the soil churning at the base of the trunk, then this tree could have a serious problem with its root system. This could be due to disease, damage, or insects attacking the roots. If you do nothing and leave the sample as it is, it will become a potential risk.
There are two options, remove it immediately or stake it during the growing season and see if this helps it firm up. Remember, you should remove the stakes in late fall. If it’s still moving on the ground, the difficult decision to remove the tree may have also been made. Long-term staking actually prevents trees from establishing a secure root system because trees rely on stakes to hold them up and prevents them from blowing in the wind and being forced to establish a strong root system. Never leave a tree staked for years and then remove it. The next windy day, your tree will topple over, or worse, snap at the bottom.
The reason the tree has not established a strong root system is mainly because it has attached roots and this is why it is important not to buy trees that have been in a nursery for years. They are not safe trees. Also, when purchasing a tree from a nursery, look at the relationship between canopy and pot size. This will determine if the root system is large enough to support the tree when planted. I have seen some trees with huge crowns and very small root systems. There is no way the root system can support the weight of the canopy. Do not buy these heavy trees, they are an accident waiting to happen.
How to plant a tree correctly
Planting a new tree correctly is really important because you want it to develop into a strong and healthy specimen. First of all, it’s important to dig a wide hole rather than a deep hole (as long as it’s as deep as the pot the plant came in) and that’s because there’s a myth that plant roots grow vertically. . Actually, most plant roots grow laterally (to the sides), since this is where most of the oxygen is found. The deeper, the less Co2 is present and therefore the roots cannot breathe (take in oxygen). Most tree roots are in the top 1.5 meters of the soil, where most of the oxygen and moisture is. Many trees die from being badly planted; they are planted too deep or too shallow.
If the trunk is too deep, the roots cannot receive oxygen and the trunk will rot. If the roots stick out of the ground, they will dry out and eventually die. The correct way to plant is to have the joint where the trunk and roots are planted at ground level. And if you’re not happy with the first planting, pull it out and try again. (Careful, do it immediately, don’t let several months go by because you might like the tree). As the tree matures, you should be able to see a nice style develop at the base of the trunk. If you can’t, then you are planted incorrectly.
Tip: To help prevent root balls, dig a square hole, forcing roots to grow laterally.
I do not believe in putting compost, animal or compost at the bottom of the hole because when it decomposes it causes the tree to sink and it is planted too deep. Compost and animal manure can also retain water, making it incapable of the new plant. This causes the root ball to dry out as it is almost impossible to re-moisten it and they die. I do believe in putting compost, manure, and mulch around the plant when I’m done backfilling with the unadulterated soil I dug out of the hole. For any tree problems, I recommend that you hire a qualified arborist who has the experience to understand what goes on within the biology and root system of the tree. It can be expensive, but it is money well spent. If you are not satisfied with the advice, I recommend getting a second opinion. Enjoy your trees.