Is it normal for new trees to have 8"of solid clay in the root ball?

last year

last modified: last year

Hello,

Hoping to get some guidance. We have planted new trees now 3 years in a row but unfortunately they have died each time due to root rot. We've been very careful about not over watering but here in PA we tend to get some heavy spring rainstorms every now and then. For the last two years we had paid the tree center to install the trees that we bought from them. Overall, we've spent over $2000 on trees and installation costs.

For this most recent set, we decided that we would try and install them ourselves to save some cost. When we dug out the previous trees, we found that the soil directly beneath them was very heavy/solid clay, and sopping wet despite the area not having been watered in months. We also found that the burlap and heavy wire mesh was still around the dead trees root ball.

This time around, we decided to install some drainage for the new trees, so we dug out a trench extending about 8' from the base of the tree and put in some drainage pipe. We didn't find any the heavy clay soil anywhere else that we dug out. Then when planting the new trees, we found that the bottom of the new tree's root ball had about 8 inches of solid red clay in the bottom. I cant imagine the clay would be able to properly drain or allow the roots to breathe if planted like this.

For the last few years we have been thinking that our soil was bad or that we were over watering. But now I'm stuck wondering if maybe the trees are being shipped with too much clay leading to root rot once they're planted?

These pictures were taken with the tree fresh from the tree center and had not yet been watered. The clay was so dense that I could literally form it with my hands.

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Comments (6)

gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
Field grown balled and burlapped trees - what you are describing - are almost always grown in clay. This is to provide maximum protection to the rootball. It is a standard procedure for this type of nursery product.

Remove all the wrappings before planting but leave the rootball intact. Trying to remove the clay will damage what is left of the rootball.

If your soil is also heavy clay, then plant high in a wide but shallow planting hole, so that the top of the rootball is above grade. Mound the excavated soil or any garden soil and amendments up to the top of the rootball and firm in well. Water as necessary.
mntreegrower
last year
last modified: last year
If excessive, heavy spring rains are a regular occurrence where you live, then you might want to consider planting later in the season when (assuming) the heavy rains tend to subside, or possibly the fall even.

What kind of trees are you trying to plant in this heavy clay area? Not all trees are suitable to clay that doesn't drain well. How did you decide what to plant? How often were you watering?

(Bill has me thinking that I misread your post and that you don't have a yard full of clay soil.)

You would likely damage and tear off tree roots trying to remove clay from that ball.
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last year
I would only state that the information given above does NOT agree with standard conventional horticultural practices for planting trees and large shrubs in clay. Planting high in a wide but quite shallow planting hole with the soil mounded around it ensures that root establishment can occur without compromising drainage. It doesn't matter the presentation - b&b, bare root or containerized. And the the rootball can be sited as high as is convenient or practical.......fully above grade if necessary.

btw, the root flare may often be buried or obscured with b&b stock. In addition to any wrappings, be sure to remove any excess soil/clay from the top of the rootball to clearly expose before planting.

https://sites.google.com/site/tnarboretum/Home/planting-a-tree-or-shrub
Toronado3800 Zone 6 St Louis
last year
Ok OP, so we decided the clay is pretty normal and more than one method of planting exists.

How big of transplants are you getting and what species?

I have best luck and do the least digging with maybe 3 ft tall transplants from gallon pots, plus there is less digging. The deer need dealt with though.
BillMN-z-2-3-4
last year
' This time around, we decided to install some drainage for the new trees, so we dug out a trench extending about 8' from the base of the tree and put in some drainage pipe. We didn't find any the heavy clay soil anywhere else that we dug out. '

According to this this, the OP doesn't have heavy clay soil. It's just the root ball from the nursery that has heavy clay.

Probably need to reevaluate how it should be planted then, with a clay b&b into soil that is not heavy clay. To me, a normal planting with a larger hole, back filled with native soil, would be the way to go. Including the proper level for the root flare.
ken_adrian Adrian MI cold Z5
last year
i live atop 15 feet of sand.. i could not dig a root ball to save my life .... or a trees ...

as noted.. ALL ball and burlap are clay... cant be done otherwise...

For the last two years we had paid the tree center to install the trees that we bought from them.

===>>> you need to find a person who knows how to plant in clay..

its really not mysterious nor hard.. but if your professional cant handle it.. he or she should get out of the business...

i hope they warrantied what they plants.. and i hope they stood by said warranty ... if not.. sue them...

one trick is to plant half the ball in the ground.. and mound normal soil aroung the exposed part .... so there is proper drainage... while the tree puts down roots into the clay .. your guy should know all about that ... the base problem is the transplant and the soil inability to drain the water... so figure out how to drain the soil.. and its not a pipe down in the clay ...

your guy should have used the web: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=planting+trees+in+clay+soil&atb=v298-1__&iar=videos&iax=videos&ia=videos

or this one: https://duckduckgo.com/?q=planting+trees+high+in+clay+soil&atb=v298-1__&iar=videos&iax=videos&ia=videos

welcome to the forums.. thank god you found us...

ken