The tree declines earlier and sometimes more dramatically that it should. If all that is visible are small roots and no trunk flare, normal respiration cannot occur. You are looking for large roots in the top 1-2 inches of soil. When in doubt, dig with your fingers close to the trunk. As trees age, many develop a trunk spread at ground level where the big supporting buttress roots flare away from the trunk. There is virtually no change in diameter where the trunk and soil meet. When viewing the lower trunk, it goes into the ground like a fence post goes into a hole. One simple check can indicate if an existing tree has been planted too deep. Most of the roots stay well below the place they should be and do not get enough air to perform normally. When the tree is planted too deep, or below grade, the roots still grow horizontally, not upwards. Since roots grow horizontally, respiration for the tree naturally happens. One of the important functions of the roots closest to the surface is to take in air, use the carbon dioxide and make oxygen. This is like tying up the front leg of your Kentucky Derby prospect and expecting the horse to place first when the starting gate opens. If the tree is planted 6 inches above the surrounding terrain, that means one-third to one-fourth of its roots have nowhere to go. They either stop at the edge of the planting hole or they grow into the mulch which does not hold moisture or nutrients well for the tree. When planted too shallow, or above grade, the roots that are supposed to grow horizontally have nowhere to go. Roots can grow far beyond the dripline, which is the length of the branches. Some trees have tap roots and others have some deep anchoring roots, but most are almost kissing the soil surface. That’s a big, fat pancake just below the surface. Trees have roots that grow horizontally, and 80 percent of the tree’s roots are in the top 18-24 inches of soil. Trees planted too deep or too shallow shorten the tree’s life expectancy. The planting depth of the tree in its new location is very important. Michigan State University Extension horticulture educators and Master Gardener hotline staff receive calls about apparently healthy trees dying suddenly, and questions about planting depth are included in the discussion. Smart gardeners realize that the time spent planting the tree correctly has a much greater chance of leading to a long-term relationship between the tree and the smart gardener. ![]() Scooping out a hole and booting the tree in is not the way to handle the most important part of this tree’s new life with you. Planting trees, regardless of their size, is an art combined with science.
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