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Toll-Free: (800) 461-5539
Phone: (509) 886-1566
Fax: (509) 884-5464
Address:
Mail:
PO Box 75
Wenatchee, WA 98807
Physical:
4857 Contractors Drive
E. Wenatchee, WA 98802
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Buying High Quality Trees
When you buy a high-quality tree, plant it correctly, and treat it properly,
you and your tree will benefit greatly in many ways for many years.
When you buy a low-quality tree, you and your tree will have many costly problems
even if you take great care in planting and maintenance.
What Determines Tree Quality?
A High-Quality Tree Has:
- An adequate-sized root ball. If possible, check to ensure there are enough sound
roots to support healthy growth.
- A trunk free of mechanical wounds and wounds from incorrect pruning.
- A div form with well-spaced, firmly-attached branches.
A Low-Quality Tree Has:
- Crushed or circling roots in a small root ball or small container.
- A trunk with wounds from mechanical impacts or incorrect pruning.
- A weak form where multiple stems squeeze against each other or where branches squeeze
against the trunk.
Any of these problems alone or in combination with the others will greatly reduce
the tree's chances for a long, attractive, healthy, and productive life. When
buying a tree, inspect it carefully to make certain it does not have problems with
roots, injuries, or form. (Remember "R.I.F." ---it will help you remember Roots,
Injuries, and Form.) Here are some details on potential problems, and
some other considerations, that you should be aware of when buying a tree.
Root Problems
Roots on trees for sale are in three categories:
- Bare roots, no soil; usually on small trees.
- Roots in soil held in place by burlap or some other fabric.
- The root ball may be in a wire basket.
- Roots and soil in a container.
Bare Root Stock
Bare roots should not be crushed or torn. The ends of the roots should be clean
cut. If a few roots are crushed, recut them to remove the injured portions. Use
sharp tools. Make straight cuts. Do not paint the ends. The cuts should be made
immediately before planting and watering.
Root Balled Stock
You should be able to see the basal trunk flare. The flare is the spreading trunk
base that connects with the roots. Root balls should be flat on top. Roots in soil
in round bags often have many major woody roots cut or torn during the bagging process.
The diameter of the root ball should be at least ten to twelve times the diameter
of the trunk as measured 6" above the trunk flare.
Roots should not be crushed or torn.
After placing the root ball in the planting site, cut the cords and carefully pull
away the burlap or other fabric. Examine any roots that protrude from the soil.
If many roots are obviously crushed or torn, the tree will have severe growth problems.
If only a few roots are injured, cut away only the injured portions. Use a sharp
tool. Use care not to break the soil ball about the roots.
Cut the wire on wire baskets
Place the basket into the planting site. Cut away at least the top two wires without
disturbing the root ball. Inspect exposed roots for injuries. If many roots are
injured, the tree may have serious growth problems.
Container Stock
Roots should not twist or circle in the container. Remove the root ball from the
container. Inspect the exposed larger roots carefully to see if they are twisting
or turning in circles. Circling roots often girdle and kill other roots. If only
a few roots are circling, cut them away with a sharp tool.
Trunk flare should be obvious
Be on alert for trees planted too deeply in containers, or trees "buried" in fabric
bags. As with root balled stock, you should be able to see the basal trunk flare
with container grown plants.
Injuries
Beware of injuries beneath trunk wraps. Trunk wraps may hide wounds, incorrect pruning
cuts, and insect injuries. Never buy a tree without thoroughly checking the trunk.
If the tree is wrapped, remove the wrap, inspect the trunk for wounds, incorrect
pruning cuts and insect injuries. Wrap can be used to protect the trunk during transit,
but should be removed after planting.
Incorrect Pruning
Incorrect pruning cuts are major problems. Incorrect pruning cuts that remove or
injure the swollen collar at the base of branches can start many serious tree problems---cankers,
decay, cracks. Incorrect pruning cuts that leave branch and leader stubs also start
disease and defect problems. Do not leave stubs. A correct pruning cut removes the
branch just outside of the collar. A ring or "doughnut" of sound tissues then grows
around the cut. Do not make cuts flush to the trunk. The closing tissues may form
only to the sides of the flush cuts. Trunk tissues above and below flush cut branches
often die. When the heat of the sun or the cold of frost occurs, cracks or long
dead streaks may develop above and below the dead spots.
Tree Form
Good, div form, or architecture, starts with branches evenly spaced along the trunk.
The branches will have firm, div attachments with the trunk.
Squeezed branches signal problems
Weak branch unions occur where the branch and trunk squeeze together. As the squeezing
increases during diameter growth, dead spots or cracks often begin to form below
where the branch is attached to the trunk. Once this problem starts, the weak branch
attachment could lead to branches cracking or breaking during mild to moderate storms.
When several branches are on the same position on the trunk, the likelihood of weak
attachments and cracks increases greatly. As the branches grow larger and tighter
together, the chances for splitting increase.
Avoid trees with two or more stems squeezing together
As stems squeeze together, cracks often form down the trunk. The cracks could start
from squeezed multiple leader stems, or where the two trunks come together. If you
desire a tree with multiple trunks, such as a birch clump, make certain that the
trunks are well-separated at the ground line.
Remember, trunks do expand in diameter as they grow. Two trunks may be slightly
separated when small, but as they grow in girth, the trunks will squeeze together.
Look for early signs of vertical trunk cracks
Examine branch unions carefully for small cracks below the unions. Cracks are major
starting points for fractures of branches and trunks. The small cracks could be
present for many years before a fracture happens. Always keep a close watch for
vertical cracks below squeezed branches and squeezed trunks.
Corrective pruning helps
If your tree has only a few minor problems, corrective pruning may help. Start corrective
pruning one year after planting. Space the pruning over several years. Remove broken
or torn branches at the time of planting. After a year, start corrective pruning
by removing the branches that died after planting.
Trees Have Dignity Too
Most nurseries produce high-quality trees. When you start with a high-quality tree,
you are giving that tree a chance to express its dignity for many years. Remember
RIF.
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