Need Help Planting a Tree Sapling

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Hi all,

I recently purchased a five foot tall Sycamore tree sapling from a local nursery in a gallon container. I removed it from the container and unbound/teased its roots with a hand rake so they won't stay girdled in a circle (due to growing in the container).

I am getting ready to plant the tree and was wondering if someone could help me as the trunk has a bend in it? It's really not so much a bend as it is that the top of the tree is growing at a different angle than the base of the tree near its root collar. I suspect it grew like this at the nursery in order to reach the most sunlight.

I wonder if I should plant the tree sapling so that its root collar is at soil level with its trunk pointing straight up from the ground? This would cause the rest of the tree to be at somewhat of a 70 degree diagonal. Or, to account for the bend should I angle the trunk at its base so that although somewhat crooked at the bottom, the top part of the tree and main leader are positioned straight as a pole from the ground?

Thank you!

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Comments (5)

Smivies (Ontario - 5b)
4 years ago
Split the difference if you prefer. Whatever angle you plant it at, the tree will grow vertically from that point on and it's not really going to make much difference in a few years and be completely unnoticeable in 20 years.
unclehippie
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you. I wonder if it would help if we were to stake the tree?
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
4 years ago
just because you buy it.. doesnt mean it the time to plant it ... just fyi for next time... hold it in the pot until proper fall planting time.. it might have made a big difference to survival ...

i have planted rootballs at an slight angle ... so the tree was more straight ... i dont see a problem with that.. but i was never dealing with a 70 degree angle ... wish you would have snapped a pic so we had a better idea what you mean ...

yes.. you have to stake a 5 foot newly planted tree ... but with no root adhesion ... you arent going to be able to pull it any which way ... all you can do.. is anchor it.. so it doesnt blow over ...

is there a typo above.. a 5 foot tree ...IN A ONE GALLON POT????? .. not sure i would have bought it .. except at quite a bargain ...

ken

see section one: choose the PROPER PLANTING TIME

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub
Smivies (Ontario - 5b)
4 years ago
Ken is generally correct about planting time but this is a Sycamore...give it lots of water and you can pretty much plant it anytime you want during the growing season.

i would stake it only to prevent it from uprooting itself in the next 12 months, not to straighten it.
unclehippie
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Thanks, guys. Although admittedly it is not the best time of the year to plant a tree, I ended up splitting the difference as Smivies recommended. It looks pretty straight.