[Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

[Tyler Storey]

Hi Bruce,
You're entirely on the right track in wanting to be certain that the trees
are planted properly to prevent future problems.  Ideally, the trees should
be planted in hole that is two to three times the width of the root-ball,
and only as deep as the root-ball, no deeper.  The exception to the depth
would be if you have a known caliche layer, in which case you do want to
have it at least fractured, to facilitate drainage.  

Digging the hole two to three times as wide as the root-ball, and then
backfilling with no soil amendments help to make certain that the tree will
have loosened soil in which to put our its initial root growth.

Water also plays a big role in trees that blow down after five years in the
ground.  Your trees should always be watered widely -- to the drip line of
the canopy and beyond -- and deeply, to a depth of about three feet every
time you water.  Yes, three feet, even for desert-adapted trees. Deep, wide,
and infrequent water will help to make certain they develop a strong root
structure.

You don't mention the type of trees that blew down, but that plays a role as
well.  Non-native mesquites are in particular prone to blowing down, whereas
our native mesquites and other native trees -- properly planted and watered
-- are less susceptible to wind damage.

I hope this helps,
Tyler

tyler at tylerstorey.com
http://tylerstorey.com
602-738-2978

-----Original Message-----
From: arid_gardener-bounces at CALS.arizona.edu
[mailto:arid_gardener-bounces at CALS.arizona.edu] On Behalf Of
Bruce.Chandler at tmcaz.com
Sent: Thursday, April 17, 2008 11:15 AM
To: arid_gardener at Ag.arizona.edu
Subject: [Arid_gardener] Question from Home-Hort WWW page

Bruce
85658
Bruce.Chandler at tmcaz.com

Hello,

My wife has hired landscapers to native plant trees.  They built a box area
about 10 feet by 10 feet out of cemet blocks--it is nice, but I told my wife
to be sure and tell them to break up the cliliche (sp) before she has them
plant the tree, otherwise the tree won't grow properly in the space.   It is
very hard and difficult to dig in our yard, and I know that they won't do it
unless we insist.   Other trees in our yard, in fact the entire neighborhood
have blow over--trees that were five years old--because the landscapers just
seem to have made a small hole (ground is very very hard) and roots have
fanned out and not in the ground.  Can you comment on this please?  I'm
afraid that they trees will not take proper root.

Cheers!

Bruce


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