Planting Depth

Many current tree problems can be traced back to planting procedures.  Unfortunately, trees are often planted too deep. That is to say the root flare at the base of the trunk is well below grade and the tree looks like a pole coming out of the ground instead of seeing large lateral roots giving rise to the trunk.  This causes trunk tissue to be constantly wet and makes it susceptible to crown rot which leads to root rot.  Trunks don’t like to be constantly wet as roots don’t like to be constantly dry.  Soil borne fungi and other pathogens will infect the root crown and travel down to the roots.  Many soil borne pathogens such Armillaria and Phytophora become a major problem especially with oak trees.  As the large roots become infected they also become soft and the structural integrity of the tree is compromised.

Additionally, roots need to be close to the surface where they can absorb nutrients from organic matter and most importantly oxygen.  Most water and nutrient absorbing roots are located in the top 6” to 18” of soil.  In this soil horizon most of the oxygen and organic matter (from dead decaying plant material etc.) is deposited.  The deeper soil horizons contain carbon dioxide and minerals which are the result of broken up parent material (rocks).  The deeper roots are planted the less oxygen they can absorb, the less oxygen plants absorb the less they can carry out essential metabolic processes necessary for proper growth, in short, the root system suffocates.

Another indication of this is a soft root ball.  The placement of emitters directly against the trunk also contributes to this condition.