tree planting and care

Trees and ShrubsTrees and Shrubs

Jeremy WeberJeremy WeberButte-Silver Bow County Butte-Silver Bow County

MSU Extension AgentMSU Extension AgentSpring 2012 Spring 2012

OutlineOutline Why we plant treesWhy we plant trees

Aesthetic, psychological, economic benefitsAesthetic, psychological, economic benefits Environmental benefits, energy savingsEnvironmental benefits, energy savings

How we plant treesHow we plant trees PlanningPlanning Green side goes upGreen side goes up

Take care of your trees, stupid!Take care of your trees, stupid! PruningPruning

Why We Plant TreesWhy We Plant Trees

Visual CharacteristicsVisual Characteristics (The Stuff Your (The Stuff Your Neighbors Notice) Neighbors Notice) BarkBark FlowersFlowers Branch HabitBranch Habit FoliageFoliage Fruit and SeedFruit and Seed Seasonal interestSeasonal interest

Why We Plant TreesWhy We Plant Trees PSYCHOLOGICALPSYCHOLOGICAL

Greenscape reduces stress and ADHD symptomsGreenscape reduces stress and ADHD symptoms Arbor Day Foundation: More urban trees Arbor Day Foundation: More urban trees

correlated with lower crime ratescorrelated with lower crime rates ECONOMICECONOMIC

Pride of placePride of place Tree care = Grant fundingTree care = Grant funding

Reduce stormwater load Reduce stormwater load People enter stores more frequently and spend People enter stores more frequently and spend

more in commercial districts with more treesmore in commercial districts with more trees

Why We Plant TreesWhy We Plant Trees EnvironmentalEnvironmental

Reduced stormwater Reduced stormwater runoffrunoff

Improved water Improved water qualityquality

Erosion controlErosion control Air quality (filter Air quality (filter

particulate matter, particulate matter, reduce carbon)reduce carbon)

Why We Plant TreesWhy We Plant Trees Energy Savings – reduce heating/cooling costsEnergy Savings – reduce heating/cooling costs

Shade buildings, cool by transpiration in summerShade buildings, cool by transpiration in summer Windbreak in winterWindbreak in winter

Visual CharacteristicsVisual Characteristics(The stuff your neighbors notice)(The stuff your neighbors notice)

Bark Bark FlowersFlowers Branch HabitBranch Habit FoliageFoliage Fruit and SeedFruit and Seed Seasonal InterestSeasonal Interest

BarkBark The outer covering of the trunk and branches of a The outer covering of the trunk and branches of a

tree, usually corky, papery or leathery.tree, usually corky, papery or leathery.

FlowersFlowers

Branch HabitBranch Habit

Branch = a natural Branch = a natural subdivision of a plant subdivision of a plant stemstem

FoliageFoliage

Fruit and SeedFruit and Seed Fruit = the fully developed ovary of a flower, Fruit = the fully developed ovary of a flower,

containing one or more seedscontaining one or more seeds

Seasonal Seasonal InterestInterest

Uses in the LandscapeUses in the Landscape FrameFrame BackgroundBackground Corner PlantingsCorner Plantings ScreenScreen ShadeShade

WindbreakWindbreak SpecimenSpecimen TrafficTraffic

DirectionDirection StoppingStopping

Corner PlantingsCorner Plantings

ScreenScreen

ShadeShade

WindbreakWindbreak

SpecimenSpecimen The center of attentionThe center of attention A focal pointA focal point Used sparinglyUsed sparingly

TrafficTraffic

Plan Well – BEFORE You PlantPlan Well – BEFORE You Plant

““Know What’s Below”Know What’s Below” It’s the lawIt’s the law

Plan AheadPlan Ahead Anticipate ProblemsAnticipate Problems

Plan AheadPlan Ahead Like a puppy…Like a puppy…

……consider the size of the consider the size of the mature tree.mature tree.

Plants should be placed one-half of their mature spread and height from existing physical items

Or the mature size ÷2 = the distance to plant away from buildings, houses, etc.

Right Tree, Right Place!Right Tree, Right Place!

Right Tree, Right Place!Right Tree, Right Place!

Right Tree, Right Place!Right Tree, Right Place! Trees have Trees have

many shapes to many shapes to fit (or not fit) fit (or not fit) many spacesmany spaces

Understanding RootsUnderstanding Roots

About 85% of a About 85% of a

tree’s roots are tree’s roots are

within the top within the top

18 inches of soil18 inches of soil

(75% in top 8” – 10”)(75% in top 8” – 10”)

Understanding RootsUnderstanding Roots

Roots can spread 2 X Roots can spread 2 X

the height of the tree the height of the tree

in one direction from in one direction from

the trunkthe trunk

(or 1 ½ - 3 X the (or 1 ½ - 3 X the

dripline)dripline)

32

PlantingPlanting Planting = The act of placing plants (or plant Planting = The act of placing plants (or plant

parts) in the soil to encourage them to growparts) in the soil to encourage them to grow

Key phrase: “Go wide, not deep”Key phrase: “Go wide, not deep”

Types of Planting StockTypes of Planting Stock

Bare RootBare Root Handle in dormant Handle in dormant

conditioncondition Best for deciduous Best for deciduous

plantsplants PROTECT ROOTS PROTECT ROOTS

FROM DRYING!FROM DRYING! Keep wrapped and Keep wrapped and

moistmoist Inspect and remove Inspect and remove

damaged rootsdamaged roots Best planted in Best planted in

springspring

ContainerizedContainerized Pot of plastic or Pot of plastic or

metalmetal Should have well-Should have well-

developed root developed root system in containersystem in container

Keep well watered Keep well watered in containerin container

Can plant Can plant throughout growing throughout growing seasonseason

Balled – and – BurlappedBalled – and – Burlapped Best if dormant, Best if dormant,

but in leaf OKbut in leaf OK Keep soil ball Keep soil ball

moistmoist Protect foliage Protect foliage

from windfrom wind Spring/Fall best Spring/Fall best

planting time – planting time – okay in summerokay in summer

How large should the root ball be? How large should the root ball be? Rule of Thumb #1:

10” – 12”of root ball for each 1” of trunk diameter Measured at 6” to 12” off the ground

Example: 4” diam. trunk = 3 ½’ – 4’ root ball

Rule of Thumb #2: A tree takes one year to establish for each inch of

trunk diameter

How to Plant: Find the Root FlareHow to Plant: Find the Root Flare The root flare The root flare

(trunk flare, root (trunk flare, root crown) should be crown) should be visible at the visible at the surfacesurface

The place where The place where the top-most root the top-most root originates from originates from the trunk will be the trunk will be just below this just below this pointpoint

How to Plant: The Planting HoleHow to Plant: The Planting Hole Should be 2-3 X wider Should be 2-3 X wider

than the spread of roots than the spread of roots but no deeper.but no deeper.

Roots should rest on Roots should rest on undisturbed soil (to undisturbed soil (to avoid settling)avoid settling)

Replace soil and gently Replace soil and gently tamp.tamp.

WATER IT IN!

How to PlantHow to Plant Let professionals handle the big onesLet professionals handle the big ones

Planting B

lueprintP

lanting Blueprint

How to PlantHow to Plant

How to Plant – MulchingHow to Plant – Mulching Place 2-3 inches around Place 2-3 inches around

tree. tree. Do notDo not mound the mound the

mulch against the trunk.mulch against the trunk. Do notDo not use solid black use solid black

plastic under landscape plastic under landscape rock or mulch – limits rock or mulch – limits air and water to rootsair and water to roots

How to Plant – MulchingHow to Plant – Mulching

RightRight WRONG!WRONG!

How to Plant – Tree WrapHow to Plant – Tree Wrap Sometimes applied to Sometimes applied to

trees with thin bark to trees with thin bark to protect against sunscald protect against sunscald and frost crackand frost crack

Apply when the leaves Apply when the leaves drop in falldrop in fall

Remove when leaves Remove when leaves appear in springappear in spring

How to Plant – Root PruningHow to Plant – Root Pruning Girdling RootsGirdling Roots

PruningPruning Why do we prune trees?Why do we prune trees?

PruningPruning Removes dead, diseased, and broken branchesRemoves dead, diseased, and broken branches

PruningPruning Stimulates fruit and flower developmentStimulates fruit and flower development

PruningPruning Decreases danger of Decreases danger of

personal injury and personal injury and property damageproperty damage

PruningPruning When to prune?When to prune?

If a tree or shrub flowers before the end of June, If a tree or shrub flowers before the end of June, prune immediately after flowering.prune immediately after flowering.

Flower buds form after floweringFlower buds form after flowering Pruning done before flowering removes budsPruning done before flowering removes buds

If the tree or shrub flowers after June 30, prune If the tree or shrub flowers after June 30, prune during dormancy or immediately before the new during dormancy or immediately before the new growth starts.growth starts.

Flower buds form beginning in early springFlower buds form beginning in early spring

PruningPruning When to prune?When to prune?

Evergreens can be Evergreens can be pruned any time of year pruned any time of year when the wood is not when the wood is not frozen, but fall is bestfrozen, but fall is best

PruningPruning Every pruning cut is a woundEvery pruning cut is a wound

Wounds allow infestation/infection/rotWounds allow infestation/infection/rot TREES DON’T HEAL. THEY SEAL.TREES DON’T HEAL. THEY SEAL.

CCompartmentalization ompartmentalization OOf f DDecay ecay IIn n TTrees rees

= CODIT= CODIT

PruningPruning Prune only deciduous trees at planting Prune only deciduous trees at planting

(minimal pruning)(minimal pruning) At about 2 years: establish good branch At about 2 years: establish good branch

spacingspacing Goal: develop strong scaffold branch systemGoal: develop strong scaffold branch system

Select wide crotch angles, branches spaced well Select wide crotch angles, branches spaced well around tree and verticallyaround tree and vertically

PruningPruning Establish alternate and radial branching earlyEstablish alternate and radial branching early

PruningPruning Do NOT remove the Do NOT remove the

central leadercentral leader

PruningPruning Remove branches Remove branches

with a narrow crotchwith a narrow crotch Optimal attachment Optimal attachment

angle is 45angle is 45º - 90º º - 90º

Adapted from USDA Forest Service

PruningPruning In short, do not leave stubs.In short, do not leave stubs.

PruningPruning Formal HedgesFormal Hedges

Planting

Year 1

Year 2

Year 3

PruningPruning TopiaryTopiary

Know when to call a professionalKnow when to call a professional

Know when to quitKnow when to quit

What not to doWhat not to do Don’t leave Don’t leave tree wrap tree wrap on too longon too long

This is damage from borers This is damage from borers harbored under the wrap harbored under the wrap during the growing seasonduring the growing season

What not to doWhat not to do

What not to doWhat not to do

What not to doWhat not to do No root flare: planted too deepNo root flare: planted too deep

How to Fix ItHow to Fix It This tree was 8” too deep in the This tree was 8” too deep in the root ballroot ball The top of the rootThe top of the root ball was removed, ball was removed, and the tree was and the tree was planted at the properplanted at the proper depth.depth.

What not to doWhat not to do PollardingPollarding Topping Topping

What not to doWhat not to do

What not to doWhat not to do Lion-tailingLion-tailing

What not to doWhat not to do

ResourcesResources International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)International Society of Arboriculture (ISA)

www.isa-arbor.comwww.isa-arbor.com National Arbor Day FoundationNational Arbor Day Foundation

www.arborday.orgwww.arborday.org

Montana State University ExtensionMontana State University Extension

Jeremy WeberJeremy WeberExtension AgentExtension Agent

Butte-Silver Bow CountyButte-Silver Bow County305 W Mercury St.305 W Mercury St.Butte, MT 59701Butte, MT 59701(406) 723-0217(406) 723-0217

[email protected]@montana.edu