Landscape design and planting techniques are personal choices by homeowners, unless you are moving to a house that is already landscaped. Unfortunately, mistakes and missteps can happen when planting and during aftercare. And then, too much time passes, leaving the plants to grow and pose issues and dare I say become eyesores with eventual decline and possible plant death.
Avoid Volcano Mulch around trees which prevents air and water from reaching the roots. (Betty Cahill, Special to The Denver Post)
If improving your own planting plan is on your front burner this outdoor gardening season, then there are ways to change bad planting habits.
Plant placement
The most used landscape phrase by green industry professionals and gardeners in the know is “right plant, right place.” Saying it out loud does not make it so unless you take the meaning to heart (and mind). This means educating yourself about what the plant needs for light requirements, soil conditions, water requirements and, above all, size. (How tall will a tree eventually grow? How wide?)
The tag attached to a plant or tree is a wonderful tool and planting guide: study it, take a photo, file it. And guess what? Even though the tag says a plant matures to a certain height and width it won’t automatically stop growing when it reaches those dimensions.
Sure, the cute little shrub may look just perfect on planting day in front of your beautiful front door, but is it the right plant in the right place once it grows up and out?
Proper planting
Burlap should be removed as much as possible after the rootball is placed correctly in the planting hole. This tree was in the process of dying so was removed. (Betty Cahill, Special to The Denver Post)
Correct tree planting often determines its fate. Obvious signs of poor planting include seeing twine, wire baskets or burlap covering the root ball. If a tree is declining and eventually dies, there may be other causes besides improper planting. Under- and overwatering, soil conditions, pest infestation or poor location may be contributing factors. When a tree is eventually removed, it’s not difficult to see one or more of the causes of failure.
When trees are planted too deeply, they look like telephone posts from the ground up. There should be an obvious root flare visible when properly planted. Even if you hire out for planting, learn the correct method and monitor the actual planting. Trees can be pricey and a lifelong responsibility for care. Check with your local nurseries or the resources below for best planting practices.
Tree mulch should not be piled too high (often called volcano mulch), which doesn’t allow for proper air and water penetration. Also keep mulch directly away from the trunk so it’s not a place for insects to hide. Too much water close to the trunk may lead to rot.
Adding mulch for a finished look to landscape plantings and borders can be beautiful and healthy for cooling plant roots on hot days, while keeping weeds at bay. Mulch choices include shredded bark, chunk bark, bark chips and arborist chips. If you would rather use rock, there is pea gravel, river rock, cobble and stones.
Weeds still find borders and beds with landscape fabric, so avoid using it. (Betty Cahill, Special to The Denver Post)
Think twice about installing landscape fabric under mulch everywhere in a landscape. Weeds will return in a year or two and become more difficult to pull the longer they are left to grow in the fabric. Plus the soil underneath fabric becomes hard-packed and doesn’t allow plant roots to move deeper in the soil; they stay closer to the surface in desperate need and search for space, air and moisture.
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Below are some common landscape oops and suggestions for mending. Both examples show plantings too close to the house and much too large for the location. Either live with it, replace it with smaller, more appropriate plantings or move it.
Tree planting don’ts
Seeing a tree with so much visible twine is not only incorrect planting, but also sad. If a tree has dead branches and stressed needles, the only solution is to remove it and plant another tree nearby correctly.
Burlap should be removed as much as possible after the rootball is placed correctly in the planting hole. Don’t place mulch too close to the trunk plant the root flare too deeply.
Avoid volcano mulch around trees which prevents air and water from reaching the roots.
Weeds still find borders and beds with landscape fabric, so avoid using it. A 2-3 inch mulch application helps keep weeds down and are much easier to pull. Plant roots will be much happier than being smothered by fabric.
Landscapes will never be perfect yet there’s always room for improvement. Enjoy the process and keep on keeping on.
Resources
Landscape Fabric: A Cautionary Tale gardenprofessors.com
Mulches for Home Grounds: extension.colostate.edu
Selecting, Planting and Caring for Trees csfs.colostate.edu