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PSA: I finally get why so many new street trees fail in my town
For years, I've seen the city plant young trees along sidewalks. Most of them struggle or die within a few seasons. I always thought it was bad soil or lack of water. But last week, I noticed they're planting them too deep. The root flare is buried, which causes rot and weak growth. Now I check every new planting and see the same issue. We need to spread the word about proper planting depth.
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bailey.max6mo ago
That point about the root flare being buried is CRUCIAL. I've heard that even an inch too deep can cause major issues over time. What specific marks or changes in the tree's trunk should we look for to spot the root flare? Also, is there a common rule, like keeping the flare just above soil level, that the planters are probably missing?
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the_mark6mo ago
That whole neighborhood tree planting project last spring was a mess, @bailey.max. They buried every single one way too deep, just a straight pole coming out of the mulch. You could tell because the trunk never flared out at the bottom. It's like they thought the ground level was where the first roots started, not where the trunk naturally gets wider and those bigger surface roots begin. Your point about even an inch being crucial is spot on. Once you know to look for it, a properly planted tree is obvious because the base looks like it's sitting on top of the soil, not stuck in it.
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