Woody Plant Installations to Ensure Survival Lync Training (12 March 2013) Dr. William M. Fountain Extension Professor of Arboriculture UK College of Agriculture © W. M. Fountain 2013 Ver.1.0

Sustainable Urban Landscapes Planning & Selection: Planning & Selection: ◊ Matching the plant to the site (right plant, right place) ◊ Matching the plant to the site (right plant, right place) ● perk test ● perk test ● soil volume ● soil volume ● above ground space ● above ground space ● species diversity ● species diversity ● seasonal interest ● seasonal interest 2

Sustainable Urban Landscapes Planning Planning Installation Installation Maintenance Maintenance 3

Installation Planting Hole: Planting Hole: ◊ wide (2-3 times) ◊ wide (2-3 times) The harder it is to dig, the wider the planting hole The harder it is to dig, the wider the planting hole 4 Reason: Digging loosens soil allowing roots to grow easily

Installation Planting Hole: Planting Hole: ◊ wide: 2 to 3 times ◊ wide: 2 to 3 times ◊ depth: upper roots are 1 to 2 ◊ depth: upper roots are 1 to 2 inches below surface inches below surface 5 Reason: Roots need oxygen to take up water & mineral elements.

Installation Planting Hole: Planting Hole: ◊ wide (2-3 times) ◊ wide (2-3 times) ◊ depth upper roots are 1-2 inches below surface ◊ depth upper roots are 1-2 inches below surface always check root depth always check root depth prior to planting. 6 Reason: Roots need oxygen to take up water & mineral elements.

Installation Preparing the plant: Preparing the plant: ◊ remove all twine, ◊ remove all twine, 7 Reason: prevents girdling of roots

Installation Preparing the plant: Preparing the plant: ◊ remove all twine, ◊ remove all twine, baskets (can be baskets (can be left on bottom) left on bottom) 8 Reason: prevent girdling of roots

Installation Preparing the plant: Preparing the plant: ◊ remove all twine, ◊ remove all twine, baskets & burlap baskets & burlap (from top & sides) (from top & sides) 9 Reason: prevents water from getting to roots

Installation Preparing the plant: Preparing the plant: ◊ Expose the roots ◊ Expose the roots (especially with containers) (especially with containers) 10 Reason: prevents interface problems between different soil types. Reason: prevents circling roots.

Installation Preparing the plant: Preparing the plant: ◊ expose roots ◊ expose roots ◊ Backfill – do not amend ◊ Backfill – do not amend (work soil around roots) (work soil around roots) 11 Reason: roots grow through the path of least resistance. Reason: can hold too much water.

Installation Preparing the plant: Preparing the plant: ◊ expose roots ◊ expose roots ◊ backfill ◊ backfill ◊ Water to settle the soil ◊ Water to settle the soil 12 Reason: roots do not grow through air pockets.

Post Planting Mulch: Mulch: ◊ coarse ◊ coarse ◊ only 2 to 3 inches deep ◊ only 2 to 3 inches deep ◊ keep away from trunk ◊ keep away from trunk 13 Reason: deep mulch can prevent water from getting into the soil ball.

Post Planting Staking: Staking: ◊ rarely necessary except with ◊ rarely necessary except with bare root trees bare root trees 14 Reason: tightly staked trees 1)grow taller 2)less trunk caliper 3)fewer roots

Post Planting Water: Water: ◊ too little or too much is the most common reason plants die in the first 2 years. ◊ too little or too much is the most common reason plants die in the first 2 years. ◊ put the water where the roots are. ◊ put the water where the roots are. 15 Reason: root system is limited.

Post Planting Pruning: Pruning: ◊ not necessary except to remove structural defects ◊ not necessary except to remove structural defects 16 Reason: auxins produced in shoots are essential for root regeneration.

Post Planting Fertilization: Fertilization: ◊ do not apply any fertilizer ◊ do not apply any fertilizer until the fall after installation until the fall after installation (if then) (if then) ◊ broadcast (when possible) ◊ broadcast (when possible) 17 Reason: nitrogen encourages shoot growth at the expense of root growth.

Review Planning: Planning: ◊ Perk test ◊ Perk test ◊ Soil volume ◊ Soil volume ◊ Above ground growing space ◊ Above ground growing space ◊ Match the plant to the site ◊ Match the plant to the site ◊ Species diversity ◊ Species diversity ◊ Seasonal interest ◊ Seasonal interest 18

Review 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 surface ◊ Upper roots within 1-2 inches of surface ◊ Remove twine, burlap, baskets ◊ Remove twine, burlap, baskets ◊ Expose roots (especially soilless mixes) ◊ Expose roots (especially soilless mixes) ◊ Do not amend backfill ◊ Do not amend backfill ◊ Water to settle ◊ Water to settle 19

Review Post Planting: Post Planting: ◊ Mulch ◊ Mulch ◊ Do not stake ◊ Do not stake ◊ Water !!! ◊ Water !!! ◊ Limit pruning ◊ Limit pruning ◊ Delay fertilizing ◊ Delay fertilizing 20

Questions?