Planting on a mound [D] has great merit especially where there are heavy clay soils or wet soils. The method works better if the mound is designed to satisfy the growing roots for small trees [B]. A guideline is that the mound should be at least eight feet by one and one half feet high in the center. The best method is to remove the parent soil [C] and place it aside on a tarp. Then place the new soil into area [C] and then build the mound with the parent soil. Do not fill with rocks [C]! Never build a mound of loam or topsoil on top of solid unbroken soil! The trees should be planted at the correct depth [A] and never use wire in a hose. Use broad belt-like material that will not injure the bark and allows the tree to sway ( we call this feathering). Planting on a mound can reduce sidewalk cracking. When larger trees are planted, larger mounds need to be made.
THE FACT SHEET PROPER PLANTING NEEDS TO BE FOLLOWED AS WELL! .
Call us for other ORGANIC FACT SHEETS on pruning and other tree care
information.
What would be great is if you could prepared the mound at
least a year in advance. This would reduce your new plant from sinking in
unsettled soil thus being planted too deep.
John A. Keslick Jr.
Tree Biologist
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