conifer root flare

13 years ago

Do conifers have pronounced root flares like deciduous trees? I started planting some thuja green giants (among other varieties) and haven't noticed a flare. It seems to be good planting advice to score pot-bound roots and to dig down to expose the root flare so that the top of the flare is about 1" above ground level. All the examples of exposing the flare I have seen show gardeners exposing the flare on deciduous trees. Is the structure of the root flare different on conifers (e.g., green giant)? Is the advice to dig out the flare true for conifers? Thanks.

Ralph

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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5

13 years ago

you differentiate between a deciduous or not..

but you dont differentiate between a graft.. and a root-ling..

GG are rooted ... and as such.. i would suggest.. it would never cross my mind to worry about a root flare ...

i would surely plant it at the depth i got it.. but i wouldnt worry about it..

though i might do a little more than score a bad root ball ... but frankly.. with thuja.. i dont know if i would go to the extreme with root surgery ....

i lost a few thuja in last years drought/heatwave .... NOT GG!!! ... and since they were planted 12 years ago.. before i knew anything about conifers.. and i got them at bigboxstore... i wondered if the ones that died.. might have survived.. as the vast majority did.. had i spread out the roots better ...

as to your first sentence.. conifers ARE TREES... so they should have all the same parts ... all conifers are trees.. but not all trees are conifers ...

i dont know if i am saying what i mean to say ....

ken

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Comments (8)

tsugajunkie z5 SE WI ♱
13 years ago
Yes, usually the flare is like any other tree. Now, a fresh graft wont have much of a flare, but as the plants age it will become more pronounced.

tj
pineresin
13 years ago
Root flare on Sitka Spruce:

{{gwi:672219}}

Resin
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
13 years ago
all conifers are trees.. but not all trees are conifers ...

Really?? If this statement can possibly be considered true, then are plants like Juniperus horizontalis 'Wiltonii', aka Blue Rug juniper, or Taxus x media 'Hicksii' NOT conifers?

Yes, I am pulling your leg a bit Ken, but you keep making this statement and it drives me nuts. NOT all conifers are trees - some are shrubs and some are ground covers. It is the growth habit that determines which is which, not the plant classification.
Sara Malone Zone 9b
13 years ago
Also it seems that conifers have to get some real size on them before the flare is noticeable. Small angiosperm trees have flares evident...but I haven't yet found a conifer with the same trunk caliper that has an obvious flare. The trees in Resin's photo are much larger than most dwarf conifers in gardens, for example.

Sara

ps and if Juniperus horizontalis 'Pancake' is a tree, I'll eat it for breakfast! It is as flat as, well, a pancake!
pineresin
13 years ago
"The trees in Resin's photo are much larger than most dwarf conifers in gardens, for example"

Understatement of the Year
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
13 years ago
Yes, I am pulling your leg a bit Ken, but you keep making this statement and it drives me nuts.

really gal?????

you are like Einstein.. and i am trying to teach a 7th grader things.. and Eisenstein wants to argue meta physical reality ...

conifers are NOT annuals .. not perennials.. NOT SHRUBS [we have argued this one also] .. not bulbs ..... not roses.. not lily.. not hosta.. need i go on ....????

they are trees ...

its simple as that..

now.. if you want to spend 40 years in the trade like gal [maybe 30 would be better.. because i think she is only about 35, and she started young.. ] ...... well you and her can argue about it..

but for the vast.. vast majority of us.. if you treat a conifer.. as you treat a tree.. you will a live long and happy life ...

and yes.. i am also pulling your leg ... payback is heck ... i think patton said that.. lol ...

now the rest of you.. she and i are GW pals.. as far as i am concerned.. so dont go getting into any huffs about this ...

ken
Sara Malone Zone 9b
13 years ago
Yes Resin, that is so true! But what about the flare thing with 'immature' conifers? I swear I don't see a flare on any of the hundreds of conifers in my garden....

And Ken I live in terror that payback is going to rear its ugly head at some point!

Sara