By C. Rae Hozer / Chronicle contributor — While the primary job of roots is to bring water and nutrients from the soil into a plant, they have a very important secondary function. Roots anchor a plant. With all the weight and wind resistance of a big canopy (on both trees and larger shrubs), strong roots are necessary to hold the plant upright. Cutting away big anchor roots growing on one side of an existing tree to put a sidewalk, driveway or foundation for a house in place, may be a recipe for disaster. It is wiser to take a large, old tree down if its roots are in the path of such construction. Don’t risk the possibility of a tree with no support roots on one side falling over sometime in the future.
Tree experts now advise making the planting hole for trees or shrubs 3 to 5 times as wide as a woody plant’s root ball to encourage good root development to all sides. Old time tree lore incorrectly assumed roots grew out from a trunk as far as the outer tips of above-ground branches. (This was referred to as the “drip line.”) Modern day arbor research has proved tree roots extend out to all sides far beyond the drip line. Think about that when selecting the right spot to put your new tree. Don’t site a tree which will be big at maturity within 15 feet of a vegetable plot or flower bed. If you do, tree roots will probably grow into the garden.
Experts recommend you NOT fertilize newly transplanted trees (not at installation nor during two years after transplant) and shrubs (no fertilizer at installation and not during first year in new location). Reminder: Nitrogen fertilizer is not recommended for established trees and shrubs between August 1 and November 15 in Tennessee.
Organic soil amendments add tiny air pockets within soil that improve movement of air, water, dissolved soil minerals and nutrients. That is a good thing. It is okay to dig or till then add peat moss, compost or other amendments to a LARGE AREA in your landscape prior to planting trees and shrubs there or making a bed or border for herbaceous perennials in that spot.
However, digging a planting hole just larger than the transplant’s root system and adding amendments to the backfill dirt is NOT recommended. Amending the soil in just the planting hole creates a difference in texture between surrounding native soil and the growing medium where the roots are. In that situation, transplant roots tend to stay within the hole circling around like roots of a houseplant growing in pot that is too small. Stunting root development in this manner hurts the entire plant above ground level and below. Another problem is that rain and water from irrigation tends to pool in a planting hole that has much “fluffier” soil than the natural soil surrounding it. Drainage is a problem. The effect is similar to placing plant roots inside a big bowl of water. Too much water and too little air encourages disease problems like root rot, which can kill a new transplant in a relatively short time.
Once a woody ornamental is in place, improper staking may weaken stem/trunk development. Woody plant stems grow stronger if they are allowed to sway in the wind. Research indicates staking should be avoided. If a tree or shrub is staked, have enough slack in the supporting lines to let the plant move a bit. Use stretchy straps rather than wires or rope that may cut into tender bark on young tree and shrub stems. Thin bark on transplant stems is also easily damaged by weed whackers or mower decks. Use a circle of mulch about 3 feet all around a transplant’s stem to keep weeds and grass from growing there.
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Plateau Gardening is written by Tennessee Master Gardeners about home landscapes and gardening in our state’s Upper Cumberland Region. Contact UT Extension Cumberland County, P.O. Box 483, Crossville, TN 38557 (phone 484-6743) for quick answers to specific questions, free publications, or to learn about becoming a Master Gardener. E-mail comments or yard and garden inquiries to Master Gardener Rae at mgardenerrae@frontiernet.net.
Lifestyles
PLATEAU GARDENING: More transplant tips for woody landscape plants
- Lifestyles
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Widows Sons support TAD
The Widows Sons Masonic Riding Association, Dry Bones Chapter, held a benefit motorcycle ride May 19 to benefit the Teens Against Drugs (TAD) Center in Crossville.
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New Corvette Club shares love for flair, design
If you were reaching maturity during the 1950s through '60s, you were probably either a Chevy guy or a Ford guy. While Chevy guys had reason to admire Ford Thunderbirds and Mustangs, the Chevy sports car enthusiasts have had an ace-in-the hole with the advent of the first production Corvette in 1953 — only six months after it debuted as a GM prototype.
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Arts festival coming in September
Mark on your calendar the dates of September 14-15 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m.) for the Plateau Arts Festival at the Plateau Creative Arts Center, 451 Lakeview Drive (off Peavine) in Fairfield Glade.
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PLEASANT HILL RAMBLINGS: Award-winning artist shares talent with community
Not everyone has the pleasure of living next door to a “real live artist” – not just a Sunday painter as many of us are, but an award-winning career artist who has had 20 solo exhibitions, been accepted into various juried shows and garnered numerous awards.
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2012 Tennessee Senior Chess Tournament winners honored
The chess tournament was a great success, with a total of 18 players representing Tennessee, North Carolina, Georgia and Kentucky. They took home many prizes, plaques and cash playing open section.
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PLATEAU GARDENING: Photographing plants and blossoms
I keep a monthly photographic plant journal. With a digital camera, photography enthusiasts like myself can take lots of pictures at little cost. Not surprised plants are my favorite photo subjects, are you?
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Celebrating Tennessee state parks
Come celebrate National Trails Day and the 75th anniversary of Tennessee State Parks, Saturday, June 2.
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GIVING BACK: Take a look at state of our waste
The county recently submitted its solid waste report to the Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation. In the past year, the county collected and landfilled 52,462 tons of waste. Another 6,067 tons of materials were collected and recycled. A total of 58,829 tons of waste were collected by the county.
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The River WILD!
The Big South Fork of the Cumberland River winds its way through the 125,000 acres of the Big South Fork National River and Recreation Area before flowing into the Cumberland River and Lake Cumberland in Kentucky. It’s a free-flowing river, with no dams to control release of the water, but the scenery and the magnificent rock formations make it a favorite of paddling enthusiasts who watch the weather to see if they can get out and explore areas that are hard to reach by foot.
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Farmer's Market opens for business June 2
The Cumberland County Farmer’s Market will officially open the growing season as it has every year since 1978. This year’s “opening” will be Saturday, June 2, at the traditional location on Livingston Rd., next to the fairgrounds. Selling will begin early (6:30 a.m. or so), although some vendors may set up a few hours later in order to provide the freshest vegetables picked just that morning. There is usually a good selection until well after noon.
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