F.A.Q.S:

Q: Why does your planting guide suggest that the tree be planted with its root ball a few inches above ground level?

Our reasoning behind why it’s best to dig your hole twice as wide as the root ball (to allow for easier root spreading), but slightly shallower than the root ball’s height is because plants and trees often sink down as they settle into the earth. It’s a common mistake that the top of the root ball constitutes where the tree roots begin. If you plant the tree too deep, the tree is “buried” and will never reach its full potential. Although it may take many years to die, an improperly planted tree will never be the vigorous landscape you imagined. The tree’s root ball should sit on stable, undisturbed soil. If, however, the hole is deeper than the root ball, the tree will begin to create a secondary root system to compensate for the lack of moisture it should be receiving. These secondary roots grow towards the surface and can actually grow around the trunk of the tree, suffocating it. In addition, trees planted too deeply can create a situation that leads to crown and root rot, which can, ultimately, drown your tree.