Redbud.

This post was edited by Dzitmoidonc on Sat, Jun 15, 13 at 9:20

redbud

you can get some opinion on that staking in the tree forum ...

it either needs to go.. as useless.. or redone.. depending on your soil type...

ken

Ken, the staking is not good? The soil is clay....I'll be surprised if anything grows well. :( I saw it before the sod was put down, and instant landscaping done.

Stakes can stay in for a year, is my understanding, after a year in the ground, get rid of them. Show another photo of the base of the tree - get rid of the grass in a couple foot (or more) radius from the base. You should see root flare - where the trunk flares out at the base - if the base looks like a telephone pole going straight into the ground, then it's planted too deep.

The soil is clay....I'll be surprised if anything grows well.

==>>>

a common mis-conception ...

look in the back of your pic.. EVERYTHING grows in clay ... it is actually one of the better growing soils .. favored by many in the trade.. especially those who sell ball and burlap ...

the issue with clay is PROPER PLANTING ... its usually the person doing the planting.. that screws it up ... especially when dealing with DRAINAGE .;.. or lack thereof ...

soil type can be county wide ... or smaller ... anyway ... the suggestion that your county is devoid of vegetation.. because of the clay take the proposition to the extreme ...

anyway.. as to your stakes.. in clay ... you only need to hold the root mass in place long enough for the trees roots to grab hold ... and that usually takes the one year noted ...

one other issue .. is can you see the root flare.. planting too deep is a common problem .. when someone else does it..

as i said.. if you want more discussion on such.. take this over to the tree forum ...

ken