Question about field growing

[Agriff]

I just bought a small 3 gallon nursery stock American Hornbeam and want to plant it in the ground for 2-5 years. This will be on the border of zones 5a and 6b.

I plan to plant it on a slab of sandstone to make it easier to dig out and hopefully encourage some lateral root growth. My question is, should I do anything to the roots before plopping it in the ground? It's late in the season and I'm worried about shocking it before the cold. At the same time, I want to make the best use of the planting surface.

Feedback would be appreciated!

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

Not much growing time left for growing here, let alone Minnesota.

One could spread out the roots best as possible , Hopefully there will be not too much tap root. In that case you might just plant it now and pull it in the beginning of the growing season and work the roots and replant.

Consider doing an Ebihara root technique rather than just planting on a slab in the spring.

Cheers
DSD sends

 

[Agriff]

I need to update my profile, this is actually in upstate NY! Thanks. You think it'll be ok if I separate the root ball and lay them out like that?

 

[PonderingSage:]

I’d wait until spring. You could temporarily bury it in the container if your looking for winter protection. Then you could be more confident splaying the roots like DSD suggested

 

[JackHammer]

I’d wait until spring. You could temporarily bury it in the container if your looking for winter protection. Then you could be more confident splaying the roots like DSD suggested

Burying the tree in the container is a good one. Might also use a piece of plastic tarp with some sort of a weave, a plastic bag wouldn't let water through and burlap would fall apart.

 

[Deep Sea Diver]

I need to update my profile, this is actually in upstate NY! Thanks. You think it'll be ok if I separate the root ball and lay them out like that?

Personally I wouldn’t bury the pot. It is one way to approach the issue though. Sometimes this causes more issues than it’s worth… as a tree in a pot is an enigma. One never really knows what’s ‘under the hood’. … and that could be nasty anoxic soil on the bottom of the. Alternately they’re plunking it in the ground pot and all if things are ok would at least call for river rock or medium bark under the pot to assure drainage.

If the tree was in inorganic media, that’s a different issue. These can generally be planted over the winter in the pot, with drainage underneath for the winter.

I guess the answer in our situation here is to pop off the pot. See what’s actually there first.

Depending on the scenario, if it’s strictly nursery soil, we’d choose to loosen up the roots and just do very minor work flattening things down a bit of now and plant the tree securely for the winter.

Once it’s in the ground, use the search function here and key in Ebihara or google Ebihara Technique. Then spend the time it takes to study the technique and assemble materials for next year.

cheers
DSD sends

 

[Shibui]

Ver late in the season for ground planting in MN or NY.
Nebari is so important for any deciduous that ground planting without sorting roots is bound to result in disappointment. Whatever root problems are present now will be much larger problems after multiplying the trunk (and root) size. You are unlikely to get much benefit from planting in the ground this late in the season. A little patience now will save years later.

Neither sandstone/ ebihara board alone will give great nebari. Both need to be combined with good root pruning but good root pruning without special techniques will still give you great results so I'd just root prune hard and not bother with tiles, slabs or boards.

1. Wait. You'll get much better results
2. Root prune hard in spring at your normal repot time.
3. Ground plant straight after root pruning and watch it grow.
4. Don't lave it in the ground too long. Nebari and root development improves by more regular dig, root prune and replant. Trunk taper and movement will also benefit from regular trunk chops.

Agree that planting the pot in the ground is a gamble. Sometimes roots develop evenly, sometimes one gets away first and causes problems. You may get some extra development form planting the pot now but digging and root pruning as above in spring.