How Planting Depth Strangles
Survivability and Profits
Ronald E. Rothhaas, Jr.
www.ArborDoctor.com
Blog: www.CincinnatiGreen.com
“What’s the take home
message?”
Kevin Griffin,
Acme Tree Service
Ron Rothhaas, member
Ron Rothhaas
OH-5177A
Resume
Associate of Applied Business, Cincinnati Technical and
Community College; Bachelor of Science, The Ohio State
University; Westwood Civic Association Tree Board; Avant
Gardeners; Hamilton County Park District horticulture staff;
City of Cincinnati Urban Forestry intern; State of Ohio
Department of Natural Resources intern; Spring Grove
Cemetery and Arboretum horticulture staff; Jeffrey Allen
Corporation staff horticulturist; Peters Nursery and Garden
Center, Lawnbuilders, Inc., tree and shrub specialist;
TruGreen-Chemlawn tree and shrub specialist; TruGreenChemlawn Cincinnati South Branch Specialist of the Year
1997; Showcase Turf and Tree – tree and shrub specialist;
Arbor Doctor owner.
“History repeats itself because nobody was listening
the first time. ”
Anonymous
“It is of the highest importance in the art of
detection to be able to recognize out of a
number of facts which are incidental and
which vital. Otherwise your energy and
attention must be dissipated instead of
being concentrated.“
Sherlock Holmes (well, that would be Sir Arthur
Conan Doyle)
Tree Volcanoes
Air Knife Excavation of Tree Base
Root Flare
Half Excavated Tree Showing Flare
Buried Several Inches Deep
Sap, Indicating
Stress
Soil Level
Root Flare
5” Deep
Adventitious
Roots
Improperly Planted Red Maple Developed
Severe Girdling Root, Leading to Trunk
Death
Quiz-What percentage of landscape
trees are found to require corrective
work due to deep planting or over
mulching?
A. 3%
B. 11%
C. 28%
D. 99%
Quiz-What percentage of landscape
trees are found to require corrective
work due to deep planting or over
mulching?
A. 3%
B. 11%
C. 28%
D. 99%
“After excavating over 5,000 root collars, we have
found that 99% of transplanted trees require
corrective work. We see many girdling roots in trees
that have been over-mulched or planted too deeply.
The Air Knife makes it easy to find these problem
roots so they can be quickly removed.”
Dave Leonard
ASCA Registered Consulting Arborist, Lexington, KY
Quiz-What percentage of trees in
Ohio nurseries have been found to
have excess soil over the first order
lateral roots according to published
nursery standards?
A. 3%
B. 11%
C. 28%
D. 100%
Quiz-What percentage of trees in
Ohio nurseries have been found to
have excess soil over the first order
lateral roots according to published
nursery standards?
A. 3%
B. 11%
C. 28%
D. 100%
The average depth of lateral roots of trees
growing in Ohio nurseries and stored in
brokerage lots was 2.4 and 3.4 in. respectively.
All trees surveyed had excess soil over the
first order lateral roots according to
published nursery standards. Methods of
propagation and field years did not influence the
depth of the first order lateral roots in nursery
production fields or in brokerage lots. It is
hoped that this research will raise awareness of
the lateral root depth problem and prompt a
change in nursery production and harvesting
techniques.
A Survey of the Lateral Root Depth of Ohio Nursery Trees
Richard g. Rathjens and T. Davis Sydnor
School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University
The bottom of the trunk flare
shall be at or above the
finished grade.
ANSI A300 (Part 6) 2005 63.6.2.3
36 Norwegian Sunset Maples
Air Knife Used to Excavate Root Ball
34 of 36 Trees Were Too Deep
Original Grade
Root Flare, 8
Inches Deep
Deep planting resulted in loss of 50% of the
15-cm and 31-cm deep-planted Yoshino
cherries in the first two years, whereas all
the control cherries survived…
Short-term survival of red maples was not
affected by planting depth. Deep-planted
trees had far fewer in the upper soil layers
than properly-planted trees one full year
after transplant for both species. Control
maples had 14+29% of their trunk
circumference encircled by girdling or
potentially-girdling roots, this number
rose to 48+29% and 71+21% for 15-cm
and 31-cm deep planted maples,
respectively…
There were no treatment related differences
in girdling root development in the cherries.
Deep planting can predispose trees to
transplant failure and girdling root
formation.
Effects of planting depth on landscape tree survival and girdling root formation
Christina Wells1, Karen Townsend1, Judy Caldwell1, Don Ham2,
Mike Sherwood3, and E. Thomas Smiley3
1Department of Horticulture, Clemson University
2Department of Forestry & Natural Resources, Clemson University
3Bartlett Tree research Laboratories
Built in Obsolescence
Trees can, and do, leave the nursery with roots
too deep in the root ball… If this adventitious root
flare is more that a few inches below the natural
location, and adjustments are not made during
harvest from the nursery and replanting in the
landscape, performance in the landscape will be
reduced.
Distinguishing Between Root System Architecture Changes and Planting Too Deep
Gary Watson and Angela Hewitt
The Morton Arboretum
‘Getting the roots right’ is a problem that involves
every aspect of the green industry, and everyone
has to do their part to keep roots at the right depth.
Getting the Roots Right Conference Proceedings – Watson and Hewitt
You
Can Not
Plant A Tree Correctly
While
Leaving The Burlap, Rope and Twine On!
All root ball supporting materials should be
cut-off from the top third of the root ball and
removed from the planting hole prior to final
back filling.
ANSI A300 63.6.2.4
Tree Planting Procedures
1. Dig hole several inches shallower and 1.5 times width of root ball.
2. Set root ball on firm, un-disturbed soil.
3. Backfill tree halfway. Be sure tree is firmed in and straight.
4. Remove all twine, rope, nails, and burlap from the top third of the
root ball.
5. Use a strong jet of water to cut down the root ball soil until you
locate the flare.
6. Wash some of the soil off the roots on the sides of the root ball
so that the roots will be extending into the backfill when
finished.
7. Hole is then backfilled so that the grade is even with but not over
the top of the root ball. Soil may be placed over top of the root
ball if it is necessary to re-establish the grade to be even with
the flare.
8. Backfill may be amended no more than twenty percent. Other
inoculants and a slow release fertilizer can be added as
needed.
Garden Centers:
Communicate proper planting to
customers.
We all need to educate consumers
that the graft union is not a defect
and should be seen above ground.
Getting the Roots Right Conference Proceedings – Watson and Hewitt
Growers:
Certify depth of trees leaving your
nursery
When planting liners, leave the crook
and cutback wound exposed. If you
plant too deep, you may be reducing the
caliper measurement and the market
price of the tree.
Getting the Roots Right Conference Proceedings – Watson and Hewitt
Landscape Architects, Designers:
Specify the proper location of structural roots
in the root ball, and after planting. Choose
the trees in grower’s fields that are planted
properly to avoid problems later. They will
also be the most vigorous.
Getting the Roots Right Conference Proceedings – Watson and Hewitt
Landscape Contractors:
 Plant correctly
 Mulch and edge correctly
 No mulch volcanoes!!!!!
Landscape Contractors:
 Plant correctly
 Mulch and edge correctly
 No mulch volcanoes!!!!!
Landscape Contractors:
Locate the structural roots in the root
ball before planting. This can be done
by probing with a surveyor’s chaining
pin or piece of wire. Plant the structural
roots just below grade.
Getting the Roots Right Conference Proceedings – Watson and Hewitt
"It is not only what we do, but
also what we do not do, for which
we are accountable."
Moliere
French actor and playwright. 1622-1673
How Planting Depth Strangles
Survivability and Profits
Ronald E. Rothhaas, Jr.
Arbor Doctor, LLC