
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, September 29, 1994                   TAG: 9409290040
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-11   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: Joe Hunnings
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

THE BEST WAY TO PLANT TREES

Changes are needed both in the way we think about trees and the way we plant them. The American Forestry Association, in cooperation with the National Urban Forest Council, has drawn up guidelines for how to plant a tree, and some of them might surprise you.

Over the last few years, arborists searching for clues to the declining health of community trees have discovered that planting methods are a major culprit. According to the American Forestry Association, planting techniques need updating mainly because home construction methods have changed in recent years. Due to bigger earth-moving equipment used in today's housing developments, yards typically are less fertile and more compacted.

Digging a hole in dense, compacted soil and filling the hole with peat moss and other soil amendments is like creating a pot for the tree that soon becomes a coffin. The tree does fine until the roots reach the original soil, and outward growth stops. So, instead of spreading into the yard, the roots encircle the planting pit. The "pot" soon fills with roots. The crown continues to grow, but the roots do not. Once the tree becomes root-bound, its ability to maintain itself during a drought or flood is limited - leading to decline that often ends in tree death.

To avoid this, plant trees so roots have a chance to grow into the surrounding soil and produce healthy, vigorous branches, foliage and roots. Instead of a planting hole, make a large planting area that is wide but not deep, with loose soil that accommodates root growth. The larger the area, the better.

After selecting a suitable location, mark out a planting area five times the diameter of the planting ball. Use a rototiller or a shovel to loosen and mix the soil in this entire area to a depth of about 12 inches. Organic matter can be added to the loosened soil as long as the new material is used uniformly throughout the area.

In the center of the prepared area, dig a shallow hole to set the tree. The hole should allow the root ball to sit on solid ground rather than loose soil. Once the ball is set in the hole, its upper surface should be level with the existing soil. After the tree is properly situated, cut and remove the rope or wires holding the burlap in place and securing any part of the tree. Position the tree so it is perpendicular to the ground and the main stem is growing straight up.

Backfill around the root area and gently pack the soil to prevent major air pockets, but avoid packing the soil too hard. Instead of your foot, use water to help the soil settle and prevent overpacking.

Rake the soil evenly over the entire area, and cover it with two to four inches of mulch - bark, wood chips, old sawdust, pine needles, leaf mold or the like. Some mulches decompose quickly and have to be replenished once or twice a year. Maintaining the mulch layer carefully improves tree growth substantially.

Some planting recommendations suggest mounding the soil at the outer edge of the planting ring to form a water-holding berm. The berm helps hold water, but it may also encourage the root growth to remain within the berm, close to the tree. The American Forestry Association does not recommend berms; mulch should hold the water adequately.

It is best not to stake the tree, but, if wind is a problem - or if the tree starts to lean - support it with a flexible stake so the trunk sways in the wind. Movement is necessary for building the trunk's strength. Remove the stake and wire after one year, since leaving wire or string around the tree can kill it.

Do not wrap the trunk with "protective" tape. It slows the tree's ability to adapt to the site and may provide a cozy home for insects. The tape is often held in place with thin thread at the top and bottom, which can strangle a tree just as wire does. Tree bark needs air and sunlight in order to build a healthy, protective sheath.

Admittedly, this method of tree planting is an involved process. New information requires more thought and more labor, but the result is also very rewarding. We estimate young trees can grow twice as fast when planted correctly and live at least twice as long as trees improperly set out.

Joe Hunnings is the Virginia Cooperative Extension agent for agriculture in the Montgomery County Extension Office in Christiansburg. If you have questions, call him at 382-5790.

by CNB