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Information on choosing and installing trees and shrubs by Dave's Garden.

Gardener: Debunking myths about planting trees, woody shrubs

18.05.12

There are lots of gardening myths out there. Take planting trees and woody shrubs, for example. They don't need a deep planting hole; they don't need organic matter or fertilizer amended to the soil; and they don't need to be pruned back to "balance" the foliage of the plant with its traumatized, transplanted roots.

At best, these practices do no good and waste a lot of time and energy. At worst, they'll make the plants take longer to become established and create problems down the road.

Myth No. 1: Dig a deep hole

The deep-hole myth probably started with people thinking that trees and shrubs have roots that spread downward. If you dig a deep hole, some soil has to go back to the bottom to raise the plant to proper height. In time, that disturbed soil sinks, the plant drops below the soil surface, water collects and stands in the depression, then it drives air from the root zone and the plant dies.

Instead, dig a hole the same depth as the plant's root ball but three times as wide, so the roots can naturally spread horizontally. For shrubs, once the diameter is correct, set the plant in and check the depth: the top of the root ball should be level or even slightly higher than the ground.

Source: Wicked Local

Digg Headlines

(1 diggs) 'Stop cutting tea garden trees'
Feb 12, 2011 from bangladeshnews(Bangladesh News) in World News
bangladeshnews The government should take effective measures to stop felling of trees in Aslompunji and Kaileenpunji of Nahar Tea Garden in Srimangol, Moulvibazar. Some environmentalists and civil-society members ...
(1 diggs) Garden tree crushes man to death
Jan 19, 2011 from britainnews(Britain News.Net) in World News
britainnews A man has died after a tree he was cutting in his garden in West Sussex fell and crushed him. The man, who is believed to have been in his 60s, was trapped after the tree collapsed at the property in
(1 diggs) Best 2011 Garden tree Art
May 18, 7189 from menbasasbda in Business
menbasasbda Best 2011 Garden tree Art Best 2011 Garden tree Art up the first layer of wallpaper When the wallpaper is soaking in water that the water can seep inside bonsai tree needs a lot of water due to the design of the
(1 diggs) Gardening | TreeLiving
Sep 22, 2011 from GreenWarrior76(Mary Orso) in Lifestyle
GreenWarrior76 Eco-friendly gardening
(1 diggs) Old Garden Tree Knife
Jul 05, 2011 from flaneus(Flaneuse) in Offbeat
flaneus If you are looking for unusual, Vintage Knifes or Antique Tools. There\s a lot to find!

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