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| We were going to a family reunion when my husband found this pretty little Shumard oak for half price at a local garden center. It looked very healthy with fuzzy new growth at the tips. We needed a shade tree and this is just what I wanted, so it went with us. I don't get down there very often (it's a 2-hour drive from home), so we had to plant it that day. It was the last miserably hot day of the recent heat wave. The tree was potted. I didn't see any circling roots, so I just stuck the soil/root mass in the ground without loosening anything. Of course I didn't want to disturb the roots since the tree's not dormant now. I know a thing or two about planting trees, and we cleared all the sod, planted slightly above grade, constructed a basin, and applied lots of mulch without piling it against the trunk. We watered before, during, and after planting. The weather has turned and it's now cloudy, rainy, and cooler. Of course that will change in the weeks to come. I have relatives who will water it during dry spells (but to be honest, I don't know about a slow, patient soaking from them). Was it foolish to plant it in July? I have high hopes for much-needed shade. |
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| Why didn't the picture go through? Here it is: |
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| The picture looks like you've got about 8 inches of mulch on it, lol! Anyway, if it were not possible to plant container grown trees in the summer, the landscape and nursery industry would go belly up. Landscapes are installed in the full summer all the time, even in the deep south. Under proper care, even very large containerized trees can do very well if planted in the summer. By "very well ", I mean without all of this transplant shock hooplah I hear about. In my career, I've been in charge of many thousands of installations of all kinds. I've never hesitated to schedule a job for the summer. Also, when I had my wholesale container nursery, business sure as heck didn't slow down when it got hot. I'd be singing a different tune if this was a discussion about field grown plants. I'd make sure that the mulch layer isn't too thick. Two to three inches is plenty. Much more that and you compromise the workings of the soil system. Watering efforts should be concentrated to the root ball ; you'll probably need less water than you think. Judge how the watering is going by digging down with your fingers and feeling.
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| The picture looks like you've got about 8 inches of mulch on it, lol! Anyway, if it were not possible to plant container grown trees in the summer, the landscape and nursery industry would go belly up. Landscapes are installed in the full summer all the time, even in the deep south. Under proper care, even very large containerized trees can do very well if planted in the summer. By "very well ", I mean without all of this transplant shock hooplah I hear about. In my career, I've been in charge of many thousands of installations of all kinds. I've never hesitated to schedule a job for the summer. Also, when I had my wholesale container nursery, business sure as heck didn't slow down when it got hot. I'd be singing a different tune if this was a discussion about field grown plants. I'd make sure that the mulch layer isn't too thick. Two to three inches is plenty. Much more that and you compromise the workings of the soil system. Watering efforts should be concentrated to the root ball ; you'll probably need less water than you think. Judge how the watering is going by digging down with your fingers and feeling.
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- Posted by ken_adrian z5 (My Page) on Thu, Jul 12, 12 at 13:23
| Was it foolish to plant it in July? ===>>> yep ... its not about what CAN BE DONE .. as rhiz suggests ... professionals do all kinds of things ... that is why they are called pro's its all about the stresses .. and your followup ability ... and you fully understand that.. since you are now begging what you expect to be inadequate followup care from relatives ... heck.. most of us dont want relatives at the house while we are gone EVER ... lol ... let alone responsible for the life of a tree .. lol .. i would have left it potted. and placed it at the care takers house in shade.. better odds they will take care of it.. and then planted it at the proper time ... and rhiz.. you did note they planted above grade ??? .. probably for clay soil .. so the mulch.. though looks thick .. isnt as thick as it looks ... i wish you luck ken
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- Posted by ilovemytrees 6a Western NY (My Page) on Thu, Jul 12, 12 at 13:34
| Your tree is so pretty! Just take good care of it with proper watering and you'll be fine. I just planted 2 trees less than 2 weeks ago and they are doing great! Both are already starting to put on new growth, something I never expected. I thought they would sustain themselves, but not go and take off like gangbusters. I hope this new growth hardens off before the fall. :/ I have to say, planting now is so much easier than planting a bunch of trees in March and then having to go out and cover them every other night because of the warm March and then the never ending frost/freezes that came after. I would take planting during May or June over THAT any day of the week. I don't think trees like that sort of rif-raf anymore than they like being planted in the middle of summer. As long as you water it properly for your soil it'll do great. Is it me or is the tree leaning to the right? Does anyone think it should be lightly staked for a short period of time to pull the tree back to sraight? It looks like the leaning starts all the way down at the bottom of the tree... |
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| When I worked for a landscaper, we stuck trees in the ground just about any time the ground could be broken with a tool. Might not be the most auspicious thing to do, but it's workable with the right aftercare. Most times, if you have purchased a potted anything, it's safer to put it in ground than maintain a pot. |
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| Now you've got me worried about too much mulch. By the way, the soil is a great sandy loam, not heavy or compacted at all. The tree is very near a river bank. The next time I go down there, I'll pull some mulch off if it hasn't settled on it's own. Here's a photo from earlier in the process: |
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| Perhaps an illusion but that plant "looks" to be planted too high or there is too much mulch. Any more than 3" of mulch is problematic. 2-3" is perfect. I know you said its not mulched around the trunk but pull that mulch away from the trunk a few inches. Perhaps its just reminants from watering congregating to the path of least resistance. You done good and you didn't make a mistake of planting in July given the situation you outlined above. My neighbor just installed his "entire" front yard landscape just before the holiday. Now that is just wrong to make people work in upper 90s ripping out grass and installing plants. I mean gettign one @ 50% is a good move. Planting several at regular price is just idiotic. Darn tard hasn't watered the Ginkgo I gave him last fall either. I had to water myself. Last thing I ever do or give him. |
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