🌳 Thanks again for your participation in the Team Leaders & Tree Stewards Tree Planting Refresher & Irrigation Workshop!

It was great to see familiar faces, connect with new ones, and get to know everyone a little more. A lot of valuable information was passed along. Here is the irrigation handout that was provided at the event, as well as the tree planting pointers:

• Beware of burying the tree too deeply. This can stunt growth or kill the tree over time.
  • Remind volunteers to set the root flare at grade or slightly above grade.
  • You may need to remove several inches of soil from the root ball and cut away any adventitious roots to expose the true root flare.
  • Identify the true root flare—where the main roots begin to flare from the trunk—and do not confuse it with the graft point (if present). This ensures the tree is planted at the correct depth.
  • Tamp the soil at the bottom of the hole before setting the tree in the hole and mudding in to prevent excessive settling.
  • Avoid excessive tamping or stomping after planting, as it can compact the soil and reduce drainage around the tree.
• Handle rootbound trees purposefully. Circling roots will kill a tree over time.
  • Cut circling roots just before they begin wrapping around the root ball to encourage outward lateral root growth.
  • Shave the outer surface of the root ball, watching for deeply buried circling roots.
  • Remove any dead or decaying roots (often identifiable by smell), especially at the bottom of the root ball.
• Additional Best Practices.
  • Mix native soil with soil removed from the root ball at a 3:1 ratio. Unmixed soil pockets can cause uneven water retention and drainage.
  • Using too much potting soil creates an artificial environment that roots may not grow beyond.
  • Mudding in the tree helps eliminate air pockets, stabilizes the tree, and reduces the need for staking.

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