Many times lately I’ve been called to look at a young tree performing poorly. In every single instance the origin of the problem was related to improper tree planting, or landscaping issues which created problems after planting.

The two most common issues have been trees planted too deep, and trees with girdling roots constricting the trunk.

When a tree is planted too deep as a sapling it is destined to struggle along, never fulfilling it’s potential, and possibly dying at a very premature age. The first major structural roots of the tree should be at surface level. The root flare requires plenty of gas exchange, it must be able to breathe. When it’s planted too deeply, or has soil added after planting, the root flare is being cut off from it’s needed oxygen. As a sort of a double whammy, stressed trees are much more likely to be attacked by insects, putting them under even greater stress.

Girdling roots have several causes, becoming rootbound in plastic nursery pots and planted without correction, being planted with the burlap and metal cage still around the root ball,  poor soil conditions which turn roots inward, and others. Girdling roots have killed more than a few young trees, and only great care and effort in planting can prevent potential problems from becoming very real problems just as your tree is growing large enough to enjoy. Some girdling root problems can be corrected with a root flare excavation and careful pruning of the girdling roots, if the problem is detected early enough. In other cases, no correction is available and the tree is doomed.

The shocking part of these problems is that most of these young trees with root system problems were planted by a tree nursery or landscape company. The only two possibilities I can see as possible are either their tree planters are not trained to do the job correctly, or they just do not care. Whatever the explanation, poor planting practices result in premature tree death.

Perhaps if they could see the results of improper planting practices about a decade later they’d put more effort into ensuring the job was done correctly in the first place.

For anyone having a tree or trees planted, make sure you hire a knowledgeable, dedicated professional to handle the project, and avoid the heartbreak of losing a young tree you’ve been nurturing due to lack of knowledge or care in planting.