Question:

We were told we didn’t have to remove the burlap or wire basket around the root ball when we planted our trees. Is this right?

Answer:

Unfortunately, leaving the burlap, wire basket, and/or any other cordage or other materials on the root ball is an improper planting practice and will eventually cause BIG problems for the tree. You might not see the impact right away, but several years later, the tree won’t be doing well due to poor root establishment, girdling roots, and other issues.

Sometimes planters also amend the soil when planting a tree. It shouldn’t be. Only the soil that came out of the planting hole should go back in. Amending the soil will cause something called “the bathtub effect,” where water doesn’t filter from the hole into the rest of the soil which can cause root rot. Also, roots will circle around the amended soil and cause girdling roots.

Girdling roots are roots that grow in a circular or spiral pattern around the base of a tree, essentially “strangling” the trunk. As the root and tree expand, the root cuts into the trunk, restricting the vital flow of water and nutrients. This can happen when trees are planted too deeply, when the burlap and other materials are left on, and when the planting hole is amended with compost or other soil that didn’t come from the hole. Please see our resource, 5 Steps to Plant a Tree, linked below. And check out the picture of what happens to tree’s roots when the wire basket is left on.

Learn more:

5 steps to plant a tree:

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/…/5-steps-to-plant-a-tree

Finding the right certified arborist for you:

https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/…/finding-the-right…