For:
By: Daniel E. Mullins
Extension Horticulture Agent
Get Ready for Fall Tree Planting
The
gardener’s urge to plant is greatest in the spring, but fall is perhaps the best
time to plant trees. Since our
Two of the most controversial subjects that I have encountered deal with tree planting. I have had some, let’s say, lively discussions with gardeners and professionals alike who disagree with these relatively new tree planting recommendations.
I call them “tree planting myths,” or practices that have been used for many years because they have been handed down and seem to make sense. In reality, there is no good science involved.
Myth Number 1: “When a plant is root bound, the root ball should be separated and spread out, or it should be cut in several places to make the roots stop their circling pattern.” Although this practice has been recommended in the past, there is no strong scientific evidence to support any benefit.
Myth Number 2: “When planting a tree add manure, peat or compost to the planting hole or backfill soil.” A significant amount of research over a range of irrigation schedules, plant materials and soil types provides no evidence that this practice is beneficial.
Contrary to popular belief, there are many cases where the roots remain in the amended backfill soil instead of growing into the surrounding soil and spreading normally. If for example, a container grown tree is planted with lots of organic amendment in the planting hole, the sandy soil surrounding it holds water at greater tension than the water in the amended backfill. The result is a drying root ball as water moves from the container medium and amended soil into the adjacent landscape soil as it dries.
So for this and other reasons, when establishing a free standing specimen plant such as a tree, it is best to plant in the native soil without using any amendments.
Okaloosa County Extension has an interesting soil amendment study underway. Larry Williams, the Extension Horticulture Agent there, and Master Gardener volunteers have planted various shrubs under both conditions. One group has had the planting hole soil conditioned with amendments and another group has been planted in the native soil without amendment.
Data will be collected from shrubs growing under both conditions. It will be interesting to compare the health of these plants over the next several years. I am sure that this information will be shared as soon as it is evaluated.
Question of the week: I
checked a daily allergy report for the
Answer: There are about 250
species of plants that belong to this group, or the genus Chenopodium. They are mostly weedy herbs. Lamb’s Quarters and Mexican tea (wormseed)
are two common local Chenopods. We are
approaching the time of year that many other late summer and fall flowering
plants can cause allergic reactions.