Plant selection and proper planting
can help eliminate future problems
by Jason Trent - April 2007
Jason Trent is a certified arborist for Ryan Lawn & Tree. He can be reached at 816-246-1707.Winter seems to be nearing an end and the ice and snow has melted away--finally! Our weather forecasts are now projecting slight warm ups, and most of the inclement weather ahead seems to be thunderstorms. As the ground thaws and the temperatures rise, many people will begin making outdoor “to do” lists (if they haven’t already). Replacing or adding trees and shrubs is one thing that will need to be done before summer arrives.
We live in an area that is tough on trees and shrubs. Our temperatures fluctuate from northern winter lows to southern summer highs. We normally go through one drought period a year if not two. We get wind gusts that exceed the speed limit of most of our city roads. We have soil types that range from highly acidic to slightly basic as one travels from north to south and east to west. To top it off, our outer areas (newer neighborhoods) have clay soils so thick that a jackhammer has trouble breaking it up.
Despite all of that, look around. There are many plants that we have brought into this area that seem to thrive with very little problems. As I said, this is a tough environment, so it may be too much to hope for a completely trouble-free plant, but with careful plant selection and proper planting, problems can be kept to a minimum.
Plant selection is more than simply picking the best tree available from the group at the nursery, but this is a good place to start.
First, don’t assume because the nursery is selling a tree or shrub, it is a good specimen. Look it over first to make sure it is free of wounds and has not been beat up when moved. Make sure, especially on trees, that there is a good central leader and good branch structure. Avoid trees that have multiple stems or branches with tight angles that are pressing against the trunk. Also, pick a plant that has a good sized root ball and visible trunk flare. (Larger root balls normally have larger root systems with less damage.)
Second, it is important to select the correct species for the site where you intend to plant it. When picking a large tree for shade (60 feet or taller), do not to plant it below any power lines and move it away from the house about 35 feet, so that it has enough space for branch and root growth. Almost the same rule goes for planting a medium size tree (20-40 feet tall), don’t plant it under low power lines and give it 25 feet of space from the house. If possible, keep smaller trees (20 feet or less) 10-15 feet from the house to give them plenty of space and to prevent damage.
Try and keep small flowering ornamentals out of areas that get sunlight all day or get the late afternoon sunlight. These plants in a native setting are normally under story plants and they thrive in shaded areas.
Evergreens need water all year long, however they don’t like wet feet. Do not place them in areas where water stands. Additionally, in thick clay soils don’t plant them as deep.
Finally, properly planting trees and shrubs is very important to the survival of the plant. Do not dig the hole too deep. It is better to err on the side of too shallow. Trees and shrubs will respond much better in this situation. Make the hole twice as large as the root ball; this will break up the dirt around the root ball area. Once the plant is in the ground, remove any string tied around the bottom and pull the burlap back half way. If it is a container-grown plant, gently break up the root mass to prevent the young roots from growing in a circle. Make sure there is not excess soil on the top of the root ball and that the trunk flare is visible, remove soil from the top of the root ball to achieve this, if necessary. The point where the root flare meets the root ball should be even with or a little higher than ground level. After filling up the hole, place a ring of mulch around any plant that is not in a bed and is out in the lawn. This mulch ring should not look like a volcano. It should only be 3-4 inches thick and should be pulled back from the trunk of the tree about one inch. This will prevent rot from setting into the trunk. Make the mulch ring as wide as possible, the wider the better.
There are a lot of trees and shrubs that can be planted throughout the Kansas City Metro Area. Be careful before picking one out for your property. Examine the site and know all of its conditions, and then examine the plant and make sure it is in good shape. Pick a proper plant for the location, and then be careful to plant it properly. Remove all strings around the trunk and do not place it into the ground too deep. Good luck and have a great spring.