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Show Tree buying tips By Division of State Lands and Forestry As spring rapidly approaches thoughts turn to landscaping, and yardwork. If those landscaping plans call for planting trees the following information might be helpful. There are three types of trees available from most nurseries: 1. Bare-root; 2. Balled and burlapped; 3. Container grown. To avoid buying a bad tree that may not survive the shock of transplanting, here are some purchasing tips: 1. Bare-root planting stock, as the name implies, has no soil covering the root system after it has been dug from the ground. While it is at the nursery prior to being sold, it is usually covered with dirt or sawdust. Avoid buying any tree whose root systems are not covered. Do not purchase any tree whose root systems look half dead, dry or withered. Make sure the roots look fresh and plump. After purchasing the tree make sure the roots are covered with soil or sawdust when transporting. This is important. The roots of a tree dry out very quickly and must be protected. 2. Balled and burlapped trees are dug up from the ground with a ball of soil around the roots. The soil and root ball is wrapped with burlap or similar material and tied with twine to keep the ball intact. Trees sold this way have few problems associated with them. They also are the most expensive type of tree available. When planting never use the tree trunk as a handle and do not drop. Cradle the root ball and support the bottom. 3. Container grown trees are, as the name implies, grown in a can or box. They are not as expensive as balled and burlapped plants and are easier to transport. When buying a container grown tree, look for an unencumbered root system free of tangled or constricted con-stricted roots: avoid buying a tree that has roots above the soil level or growing through the cans drainage holes. Other evidence of a rootbound plant are unusually large tops, dead twigs and branches, or unusually leggy trunks. Remember when buying a tree as in anything else, "caveat emptor"; let the buyer beware. |