Buying a Tree

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Buying a Tree

Planting a Tree

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Considerations When Buying a Tree

Your trees are one of your most important investments; they can add considerable value to your home or property. It is important to keep the trees you already have in good health. If you should choose to plant new trees on your property, it is paramount that you do your research. Just consider "that most trees have the potential to outlive the people who plant them; the impact of this decision is one that can influence a lifetime."

To help you in your selection process, we have provided you with some things to consider before purchasing your new tree. If you should like additional assistance, please schedule a consultation with us and we would be more than willing to answer any of your questions.

Function

Consider what you would like your new tree to do. Perhaps you simply want the tree for ornamentation. However, trees can do more than improve the appearance of your property. Trees can serve a variety of functions: shade part of your house, shield against strong winds, provide privacy, yield fruit, attract wildlife, reduce glare from pavement, reduce runoff, filter out pollutants, and add oxygen to the air we breath. Also consider that deciduous trees can shade the south side of your house in the summer and in the winter, when the leaves fall off, can allow for natural heating of your house.

Shape and Size

After deciding the function, consider the natural shape of the tree and what form would best serve the function. Doing so will mean that you will have to spend less money in the future to attain and maintain the shape you want. Also, it is important to consider the mature tree size and how it will fit into the space you have chosen.

Site Conditions

Every property has a unique set of conditions that will influence your tree's long-term success. The following is a list of the major site conditions to consider before selecting a tree for planting.

Soil Conditions: The amount and quality of soil present in your yard has an enormous impact on your trees. An arborist can test your soil for fertility, salinity, and pH (alkalinity or acidity). From these tests, an arborist can recommend ways to improve your soil quality (if it is poor) or they can suggest trees that fair well in those soil conditions.
Exposure: Different trees, just like other plants, require different amounts of light. The amount of sunlight available will suggest what species of tree you should plant.
Human Activity: Believe it or not, but "the top five causes of tree death are the result of things people do: soil compaction, under watering, over watering, vandalism, and the number one cause - planting the wrong tree." With this in mind, it is important to consider the traffic habits of people on the property, such as walk ways and lawn maintenance. You do not want heavy traffic right around the tree, neither do you want to be mowing right next to it.
Drainage: Trees, just like humans, require oxygen to live; however, they get oxygen from the ground and absorb it through their roots. Poor drainage is a serious problem because it removes oxygen from the soil, which can stunt a tree's development, or worse, kill it. Here is an easy way to test for drainage problems: Before planting, dig some test holes 12 inches wide by 12 inches deep in the areas you are considering planting trees. Fill the holes with water and time how long it takes for the water to drain away. If it takes more than 6 hours, you may have a drainage problem. If so, ask your local garden center for recommendations on how to correct the problem, or choose a different site.
Space Constraints: Check the space around the tree, including both above and below ground, to make sure that there is enough room for your tree to grow to maturity.
Hardiness: Hardiness is the plant’s ability to survive in the extreme temperatures of a particular geographic region. Make sure that the tree you select is suited to the climate in which you are planting the tree.

Utilities

It is important to consider both overhead and underground utilities when selecting a site to plant a tree.

Overhead lines: Planting a tall-growing tree under overhead lines can be extremely dangerous, not to mention a hassle to maintain. People climbing in the trees could come into contact with unseen utility lines which could lead to severe injury or possibly death. In addition, the tree will need to regularly pruned away from the lines, which has the potential to result in an unnatural appearance. Moreover, pruning too often can reduce the lifespan of the tree. The easiest thing to do is to avoid planting a tree under an overhead utility line.
Underground lines: The root system of trees tends to be much larger than the branches that spread above ground. Considering that many utilities are run underground now-a-days, it is important to know what is being run underneath your property. Often times, the trees roots do not suffer from co-existing with the underground lines. Even then, underground lines can pose a serious hazard during planting. Digging into the lines can cause serious personal injury and/or can disrupt service.

Pest Problems

Almost every tree is affected by insects and disease organisms; however, the degree to which they are affected varies geographically. In most cases, indigenous trees will have greater resistance to local pest problems. Consulting with an expert (an arborist) about local pest problems and plant resistance could be extremely beneficial, especially if you desire to plant a non-native species.

Tree Quality

Buying a high quality tree is a great investment and will provide you with many benefits. On the other hand, a low-quality tree will result in "many costly problems even if you take great care in planting and maintenance. Here are some things to look for when determining the quality of the tree.

A high-quality tree has:

enough healthy roots to support healthy growth.
a trunk free of mechanical wounds and wounds from incorrect pruning.
a strong form with well-spaced, firmly attached branches.

A low-quality tree has:

crushed or circling roots in a small root ball or small container.
a trunk with wounds from mechanical impacts or incorrect pruning.
a weak form in which multiple stems squeeze against each other or branches squeeze against the trunk.

The next three sections will discuss root issues, trunk injuries, and form in more detail.

Roots

The roots on trees for sale are treated in several ways. It is important to know what to look for when inspecting the roots of a tree.

Bare root trees have no soil; this method of transport is usually only seen on small trees. When inspecting bare roots, the roots should not be crushed or torn and the ends of the roots should be clean cut. However, if only a few roots are damaged, you can re-cut them to remove the injured portions, but make sure to use sharp tools, make straight cuts, and do not paint the ends. Also note that if any cuts are made, they should be made immediately before planting and watering.

Root-balled trees have roots that are in soil and are held in place by burlap or some other fabric. Sometimes the root ball is in a wire basket. Before unwrapping the root ball, there are a number of things to inspect:

The basal trunk flare, the spreading trunk base that connects with the roots, should be visible. If it is not, you can gently expose it when planting the tree, but be careful not to harm the bark.
The root ball should be flat on top.
The diameter of the root ball should be at least 10 to 12 times the diameter of the trunk as measured 6 inches above the trunk flare.
Also, avoid trees with many crushed or torn roots.

Once you are at the planting site, you can unwrap the root ball and thoroughly inspect the roots. Use the same guidelines as you would when examining bare roots.

Container grown trees have roots and soil contained within a container of some sort. When inspecting the roots make sure that they do not twist or circle in the container. Circling roots are a danger because they often harm other roots. However, if there are only a few of these roots, they can be cut away using a sharp tool. In addition, check to see that the basal trunk flare is exposed. If it is not, just like the root-balled tree, you can gently expose it when planting the tree, but be careful not to harm the bark.

Injuries

Many trees are wrapped in order to protect the trunk during transport. However, beneath the wrapping could be serious injuries, such as trunk wounds, incorrect pruning cuts, and insect injuries. Therefore, always check the trunk of the tree before making a purchase to ensure that it is in good health. These early injuries could set up your tree for serious problems in the future, which will mean that you will have to spend more money to keep it healthy.

Form

Here are some things to consider when inspecting the form of a tree.

Branch distribution: Branches should be evenly spaced along the trunk and should be firmly attached to the trunk. Having too many branches at the same position on the trunk increases the likelihood of weak attachments which leads to cracking. Cracking occurs when the branches grow too large and run out of room.
Squeezed branches: Squeezed branches are an early indication of problems to come. When there is a branch squeezed close to the trunk, which leads to weak branch unions and ultimately dead spots and cracking. This will leave your tree especially vulnerable during mild to moderate storms, which can lead to future cracking.
Multiple trunks: Multiple trunks can be very attractive, but can also lead to problems. If the young tree has two or more stems too close together, they will not have room to grow in diameter as the tree matures. This could lead to cracking of the trunk. So, make sure that if you want multiple trunks that you select a tree who's trunks are adequately separated at the ground line.
Vertical trunk cracking: As you can see, cracking is a serious concern. Therefore, make sure that there are no signs of cracking already present in the tree you are purchasing. Even small cracks could become serious problems in the future.

Do not get discouraged. If your tree has only a few minor problems, corrective pruning may help. Remove broken or torn branches at the time of planting. Start corrective pruning one year after planting and space the pruning over several years.