How to raise a dogwood sapling that's sunk below soil level

6 years ago

Last April I put a dogwood (~2 years old) from its pot into the ground. I planted high in heavy clay soil, but evidently not high enough... as the clay compacted with rain, time, etc, the tree sunk and it's flare now sits about an inch below soil level. BIG problem when we get rain--it sits in water for hours before the ground soaks the pool back up. I've tried placing more dirt on top, but it either washes out or settles and the pool forms again with the next big storm.
This tree's been in the ground for almost a year. It just had bud break. Is it too risky to try and dig in to raise the tree and backfill beneath it? I know these guys hate wet feet and I'd love to correct this issue..

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0plantqueen0
Original Author

6 years ago

Done! Thanks for the advice.

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Comments (7)

0plantqueen0
Original Author
6 years ago
After a big rain this weekend. I added some garden soil in desperation trying to soak up the water.. I know there's debate about amending with fertilizer
floral_uk z.8/9 SW UK
6 years ago
Better that it should sit in water after rain than the root flare should sit under soil. Remove the soil you added. Then prepare a new, much shallower hole and replant on a mound. Don't fertilise.
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ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
it should have been planted high.. in native soil ... what if anything did you amend the original planting hole with??? .. i suspect this is where the problem lays ... lies.. whatever. ... lol ..

i cant see a location.. where are you?? ... it would have been best to do this i dormancy ... but you note bud break ... if you are in a cold zone.. like my MI ... you could still dig it and replant it ... because the heat of summer wont hit until july.. giving it plenty of time to settle in before such ... and even though the buds broke.. everything here would be in super slo motion for 6 to 8 weeks anyway ... so it could be done..

the warmer the zone you are in ... the shorter all those time frames get ... big city name plz ...

ken

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub ... note section 7 on back fill
Embothrium
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
What kind of dogwood? These vary in drainage requirements. If you decide to replant it now do it immediately, before shoot growth becomes significantly more advanced. And follow these instructions, insofar as they pertain to your situation:

https://s3.wp.wsu.edu/uploads/sites/403/2015/03/Planting-fact-sheet.pdf
0plantqueen0
Original Author
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
It's a kousa dogwood, planted in native soil--the only foreign stuff I've added is the garden soil on top a couple days ago. And I'm in Southaven--south of Memphis, Zone 7b. We've got lows in the 60s for the remainder of this week, so I think we're done with winter here--everything's breaking dormancy pretty quickly.

I'm in a position to be able to water it regularly during the summer heat, if that would help settle it back after (if I have to) dig it up while it's actively growing.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
6 years ago
the only foreign stuff I've added is the garden soil on top a couple days ago.

==>>> good.. i just noticed all the peat on top ...

if the soil is sodden ... just loosen it all around ... try to lift the whole gob out ...[thats a technical term ... lol] ... set it aside ... and then just find some native soil ... and dump it in the bottom of the hole.. and replant the tree on top ...

where to find extra native soil .. i dont know.. dig a hole somewhere else ... and use the soil ...

easy peasy ... just do it.. and dont be afraid ... perhaps.. think of it this way ... it might be a goner if you dont do it ... so you may as well do it ...

and you might even leave it a few inches high ... so if it settles again ... it ends up at the right depth ... if you do end up with a mound.. throw some mulch on the mound...

its the perfect time of year to do it.. so dont delay ...

ken