Mike Hirst Digging an Upright Arborvitae - Delivery & Planting Available
Mike Hirst next to his Arborvitae that he will dig for you. This arborvitae was grown by Mike from a rooted cutting started 6 years ago. This arborvitae has been in this field for 4 years.
Mike likes a sharp spade when digging trees to assure root wounds are a clean cut. Leaving soil attached to the root system will cause less root injury.
Preparing the plant to dig. Some plants may survive transplanting any time during the year when the ground is not frozen, but woody plants are best moved in the spring after the ground thaws. If the buds on the tree or shrubs begin to swell, transplanting success goes down. Many plants may also be moved in the fall after leaf drop but before the ground freezes. Fall planting should take place soon after leaf drop, providing time for new water absorbing roots to develop before the soil freezes. Arborvitae do well in our nursery as long as the ground is not frozen. Since evergreens are especially prone to winter browning if planting is delayed until shortly before the ground freezes in the fall, they should be moved late in the summer to early fall. Properly applied antitranspirants usually help reduce the effects of winter desiccation in some species. Fall transplant success is increased by transplanting hardy plants into sites with good soil moisture and wind protection. Woody plants that are transplanted in late spring and early summer, when shoot growth is at its peak, tend to show the greatest transplant injury.
Preparing the plant to dig. Deciduous trees with a stem diameter of less than 1 inch and small deciduous shrubs may be dug either bare root or with a soil ball. This arborvitae root stem is about 1" so a 12" ball will be dug.
Starting to dig. Arborvitae species require a root ball diameter of about two-thirds of the branch spread. The soil ball for trees should be a minimum of 12 inches for each 1 inch of trunk diameter.
Digging around the plant is done carefully to keep the ball as a solid ball, without cracking open.
Digging around the plant. If the ball is to large, it will fall apart as the roots can not keep the excess dirt bound together. If the ball is to small, the roots will not be able to sustain the tree thru the transplanting.
Digging around the plant. Large shrubs and trees should have a trench dug deep enough to get below all of the major roots (usually 15 to 24 inches) This arborvitae, being small will be about 8" deep.
Digging around the plant. This will provide the correct angle necessary for the spade to undercut roots directly under the soil ball.
Digging around the plant. This trench will be dug completely around the arborvitae.
The Ball Taking Shape. Shrubs under four feet tall do not typically require trenching because the soil balls are small enough for the spade to make the undercut without a trench.
The Ball Taking Shape. All roots around the plant must be severed before any lifting takes place.
Freeing the Ball from the soil. If the plant is removed from heavy clay soils, any glazing of the soil ball should be roughened before burlapping.
Transfering the ball to the burlap bag
As Ball the is wrapped, many nurserymen use nails to peg the bag together to help keep the bag in place. Mike perfers to do without nails. Nails spill in the field. They always seem to be found in a tire. They would find your mower tires too.
Stinging the ball together only takes about 2 minutes with practice...
The rope helps hold the ball together and keeps the ball from cracking.
Finishing the ties
Almost Ready for a Beer
Its Miller Time!!!!
Mike's Leyland Cypress Trees - Delivery & Planting Available
Leyland Cypress Trees We Deliver and Plant
Our range of potted Leylands from 2' to 6' in height.
