Question about tree planting.

[LuckyCharms]

I had a dogwood tree that died. I did not plant this particular tree, but I have planted my own trees in the past. This tree was planted by a landscaping company.

This poor little tree was only about 5 years old, and was doing great until it just up and died on me. So I decided to dig it up and remove it.

When I got to the point of removing the main stump, my shovel hit some metal. What this turned out to be was a wire fence material. The wire was very thick, and it was in a circle around the trunk, buried deeply. Needless to say, this impeded my removal substantially. I ended up having to cut the wire with lineman's pliers, and I still did not reach the bottom of the stuff. Also, the roots had attached themselves to the wire.

Thinking about it, it looks like the root ball was encased in this wire fence-like material. Shouldn't this have been removed by these guys when planted, and then the root ball roughed up with your hands to loosen the roots?

Thanks in advance for any input.

[mercuryblues]

1. Yes

At the very least they should have told you the tree should not be planted there because of the wire and chosen another spot.

[yardwork]

2. Landscape contractors do a lot of bad things.

We bought a new house a few years ago. One of the young trees was planted with a mesh collar still around the trunk. The tree had grown into the mesh, essentially suffocating the tree. We didn't see it during the summer because of the leaves. By the time we noticed it, the crown of the tree had died.

I'm sorry about your dogwood. It sounds like the metal wire cut into the tree as it grew.

[eppur_se_muova]

3. Well, dogwoods are southern trees ...

so of course it "upped and" died.

I wonder what it means to just "up", without that "and ..." ??

[Donkees]

4. ''Caged In: Wire Baskets Should be Partially Removed After Transplanting Field-grown Trees''

Most industry associations, including the International Society of Arborists and the U.S. Forest Service recommend removing wire baskets, burlap and strapping from field-grown trees. And research from land grant universities supports this recommendation.

Wire baskets can take more than 30 years to rust and degrade in the soil. During that time, large anchoring roots can become girdled when they expand within the openings of the basket. This restricts the uptake of water and minerals from the roots, causing the limbs to die back from the tips.

Trees grown in burlap-lined wire baskets are also prone to root girdling. This is a common problem with plants grown in containers because the roots cannot naturally grow away from the trunk, but are instead forced around the interior of the container. As these roots expand, they compress on the trunk of the tree. Again, this reduces the uptake of water and minerals from the roots.

Trees left in wire baskets are often deeply planted. When trees are dug and caged, the surrounding soil can get pushed up around the trunk of the tree, covering the root flare. This means that even if the tree is planted even with the surrounding grade, the tree is actually too deep.

https://www.rawsonservices.com/caged-wire-baskets-partially-removed-transplanting-field-grown-trees/