Woody Plant Installations Woody Plant Installations to Ensure Survivalto Ensure Survival

Lync Training Lync Training (12 March 2013)(12 March 2013)

Dr. William M. FountainDr. William M. FountainExtension Professor of ArboricultureExtension Professor of Arboriculture

UK College of AgricultureUK College of Agriculture© W. M. Fountain 2013© W. M. Fountain 2013

Ver.1.0Ver.1.0

Sustainable Urban Sustainable Urban LandscapesLandscapes

Planning & Selection:Planning & Selection:

◊ ◊ Matching the plant to Matching the plant to the site (right plant, the site (right plant, right place)right place)

● ● perk testperk test

● ● soil volumesoil volume

● ● above ground above ground spacespace

● ● species diversityspecies diversity

● ● seasonal interestseasonal interest

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Sustainable Urban Sustainable Urban LandscapesLandscapes

PlanningPlanning

InstallationInstallation MaintenanceMaintenance

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InstallationInstallation

Planting Hole:Planting Hole:

◊ ◊ wide (2-3 times)wide (2-3 times)

• • The harder it is The harder it is to to dig, the wider dig, the wider the the planting holeplanting hole

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Reason: Digging loosens soil allowing roots to grow easily

InstallationInstallation

Planting Hole:Planting Hole:

◊ ◊ wide: 2 to 3 timeswide: 2 to 3 times

◊ ◊ depth: upper roots depth: upper roots are 1 to 2are 1 to 2

inches below surfaceinches below surface

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Reason: Roots need oxygen to take up water & mineral elements.

InstallationInstallation

Planting Hole:Planting Hole:

◊ ◊ wide (2-3 times)wide (2-3 times)

◊ ◊ depth upper roots depth upper roots are 1-2 are 1-2 inches inches below surfacebelow surface

• • always check root always check root depthdepth

prior to planting.prior to planting.

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Reason: Roots need oxygen to take up water & mineral elements.

InstallationInstallation

Preparing the Preparing the plant:plant:

◊ ◊ remove all remove all twinetwine,,

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Reason: prevents girdling of roots

InstallationInstallation

Preparing the Preparing the plant:plant:

◊ ◊ remove all remove all twine,twine,

basketsbaskets (can be (can be

left on bottom)left on bottom)

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Reason: prevent girdling of roots

InstallationInstallation

Preparing the Preparing the plant:plant:

◊ ◊ remove all remove all twine,twine,

baskets baskets & & burlapburlap

(from top & (from top & sides)sides)

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Reason: prevents water from getting to roots

InstallationInstallation

Preparing the Preparing the plant:plant:

◊ ◊ Expose the rootsExpose the roots

(especially with (especially with containers) containers)

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Reason: prevents interface problems between different soil types.Reason: prevents circling roots.

InstallationInstallation

Preparing the Preparing the plant:plant:

◊ ◊ expose rootsexpose roots

◊ ◊ BackfillBackfill – do not – do not amendamend

(work soil around (work soil around roots) roots)

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Reason: roots grow through the path of least resistance.Reason: can hold too much water.

InstallationInstallation

Preparing the Preparing the plant:plant:

◊ ◊ expose rootsexpose roots

◊ ◊ backfill backfill

◊ ◊ Water to settle Water to settle the soilthe soil

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Reason: roots do not grow through air pockets.

Post PlantingPost Planting

Mulch:Mulch:

◊ ◊ coarsecoarse

◊ ◊ onlyonly 2 to 3 inches 2 to 3 inches deepdeep

◊ ◊ keep away from keep away from trunktrunk

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Reason: deep mulch can prevent water from getting into the soil ball.

Post PlantingPost Planting

Staking:Staking:

◊ ◊ rarely necessary rarely necessary except withexcept with

bare root treesbare root trees

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Reason: tightly staked trees 1)grow taller2)less trunk caliper3)fewer roots

Post PlantingPost Planting

Water:Water:

◊ ◊ too little or too too little or too much is the most much is the most common reason common reason plants die in the first plants die in the first 2 years.2 years.

◊ ◊ put the water put the water where the roots are.where the roots are.

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Reason: root system is limited.

Post PlantingPost Planting

Pruning:Pruning:

◊ ◊ not necessary not necessary except to remove except to remove structural defectsstructural defects

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Reason: auxins produced in shoots are essential for root regeneration.

Post PlantingPost Planting

Fertilization:Fertilization:

◊ ◊ do not apply any do not apply any fertilizer fertilizer

until the fall after until the fall after installation installation

(if then)(if then)

◊ ◊ broadcast (when broadcast (when possible)possible)

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Reason: nitrogen encourages shoot growth at the expense of root growth.

ReviewReview

Planning:Planning:

◊ ◊ Perk testPerk test

◊ ◊ Soil volumeSoil volume

◊ ◊ Above ground growing spaceAbove ground growing space

◊ ◊ Match the plant to the siteMatch the plant to the site

◊ ◊ Species diversitySpecies diversity

◊ ◊ Seasonal interestSeasonal interest

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ReviewReview

Planting Hole:Planting Hole:

◊ ◊ Wide (2-3 times root ball diameter)Wide (2-3 times root ball diameter)

◊ ◊ Upper roots within 1-2 inches of Upper roots within 1-2 inches of surfacesurface

◊ ◊ Remove twine, burlap, basketsRemove twine, burlap, baskets

◊ ◊ Expose roots (especially soilless mixes)Expose roots (especially soilless mixes)

◊ ◊ Do not amend backfillDo not amend backfill

◊ ◊ Water to settleWater to settle

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ReviewReview

Post Planting:Post Planting:

◊ ◊ MulchMulch

◊ ◊ Do not stakeDo not stake

◊ ◊ Water !!!Water !!!

◊ ◊ Limit pruningLimit pruning

◊ ◊ Delay fertilizingDelay fertilizing

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Questions?

Bill.Fountain@uky.edu859-257-3320

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