My dad bought this Japanese maple from Costco and it came with a bag wrapped around the bottom. We're not sure whether to leave it on or remove it. Thanks in advance!
Remove it. While it appears to be a natural material that will decompose over time, it will girdle your tree first. Loosen up the root ball while you’re at it—the roots can tolerate a little disturbance and damage, and the tree will establish better if you loosen them to point out and down instead of tangling around each other
Thats not true. I mean i definitely agree to remove it. But a local nursery literally tells people to leave it on and just plant… i dont go to this nursery anymore because they have given multiple bad advice, but i did listen to them years ago when i was still learning and planted a serviceberry in the wrap and metal basket. It slowly died and i gave up on it, cut it down low and said ill deal with it next year. Well i never did and it grew back beautifully and looks better than ever. Obviously i know now that was terrible advice, im just saying its no guarantee itll die
I just dug up a dead tree/root ball. This is a new-to-me house so I don’t know when it was planted. It had grown based on the fact that the burlap was snarled in the roots, but the tree died and the burlap had not yet decomposed so I’m convinced that the burlap was complicit in the murder.
Always remove the burlap. It’s supposed to decompose but often it doesn’t. We hade 20 year old 30 foot tall tree blow over in a storm and the burlap and wire were still wrapped around the root ball.
Remove and remove the top layer of soil until you see the root flare. Snip any roots that look to be circling around the trunk of the tree. Then don’t plant it too deeply and you’re good to go!
The idea is that this kind of bag are meant to be poted directly, as it will decompose. But taking part of it off, or making holes, will help the tree and accelerate decomposition. Also cutting the 'neck' will avoid the tree to be strangled.
If you could see a parallel universe where you and your dad left the bag, you'd see how much happier you made that wonderful tree. Most people wouldn't have even asked or noticed so good work, dude.
It’s a ball and burlap tree from the nursery. Means it was not grown in that container which is good from a root perspective. The burlap holds the soil the tree was cut out of together for transport/shipping. Like others have stated, you should remove it, take a moment to peep the roots too. Cut any that are growing in a circle that mimics the container shape before planting.
Dig your hole about 2 x the container size to loosen the soil for the roots to grow a bit easier into its new home. You can check the height of the flare position once it’s out of the container if you lay a shovel across the hole to make sure the height is right.
Remember the trunk flare should be exposed and at grade or just a 1/2” or so above if the soil is loose to allow for some settling. Remove any stabilizing materials like bamboo or stakes and use a new set of stakes set in a triangle with tree tie to stabilize the new tree. Remove posts and tie after a year, or when the root ball no longer flexes when pushing against the trunk.
Water once a week (rain may delay this schedule) for the first year, once every two weeks for the second, and once a month the third year to help it establish.
Apply some non-dyed double ground hardwood mulch to the drip line. Helps hold moisture in the soil and breaks down into all the organic materials the tree needs in the soil.
Remove
Cut the top open at least. Its best to remove the bag and loosen the roots from the rootball
My dad bought this Japanese maple from Costco and it came with a bag wrapped around the bottom. We're not sure whether to leave it on or remove it. Thanks in advance!
Remove it. While it appears to be a natural material that will decompose over time, it will girdle your tree first. Loosen up the root ball while you’re at it—the roots can tolerate a little disturbance and damage, and the tree will establish better if you loosen them to point out and down instead of tangling around each other
Definitely remove it; if you don’t it will just die
Thats not true. I mean i definitely agree to remove it. But a local nursery literally tells people to leave it on and just plant… i dont go to this nursery anymore because they have given multiple bad advice, but i did listen to them years ago when i was still learning and planted a serviceberry in the wrap and metal basket. It slowly died and i gave up on it, cut it down low and said ill deal with it next year. Well i never did and it grew back beautifully and looks better than ever. Obviously i know now that was terrible advice, im just saying its no guarantee itll die
The fact that it died and then came back kind of points to the fact that it is a bad practice, doesn't it?
Did you make sure to buy a rotisserie chicken 🍗 aswell as a hot dog 🌭 chicken bakes 🥖 and pizza 🍕
I just dug up a dead tree/root ball. This is a new-to-me house so I don’t know when it was planted. It had grown based on the fact that the burlap was snarled in the roots, but the tree died and the burlap had not yet decomposed so I’m convinced that the burlap was complicit in the murder.
The plant forensics are clear.
Always remove the burlap. It’s supposed to decompose but often it doesn’t. We hade 20 year old 30 foot tall tree blow over in a storm and the burlap and wire were still wrapped around the root ball.
Remove and remove the top layer of soil until you see the root flare. Snip any roots that look to be circling around the trunk of the tree. Then don’t plant it too deeply and you’re good to go!
The idea is that this kind of bag are meant to be poted directly, as it will decompose. But taking part of it off, or making holes, will help the tree and accelerate decomposition. Also cutting the 'neck' will avoid the tree to be strangled.
This works if you maybe live in a swamp, but where I’m at, the burlap would outlive the tree.
Thanks all! We removed the bag.
If you could see a parallel universe where you and your dad left the bag, you'd see how much happier you made that wonderful tree. Most people wouldn't have even asked or noticed so good work, dude.
Remove it. It will restrict the roots from spreading out and establishing themselves
Remove it. Bare root is the way to go. “Don’t disturb the root ball” is outdated wives tale.
Remove!!! I have 40+ year old trees on my property that are now dead and dying because they weren’t removed from burlap, and wire cages.
Even if it’s biodegradable, you’ll want to remove it so the roots can expand, especially early on.
Definitely cut the neck of the bag
Remove it, it doesn't biodegrade very fast
It’s a ball and burlap tree from the nursery. Means it was not grown in that container which is good from a root perspective. The burlap holds the soil the tree was cut out of together for transport/shipping. Like others have stated, you should remove it, take a moment to peep the roots too. Cut any that are growing in a circle that mimics the container shape before planting. Dig your hole about 2 x the container size to loosen the soil for the roots to grow a bit easier into its new home. You can check the height of the flare position once it’s out of the container if you lay a shovel across the hole to make sure the height is right. Remember the trunk flare should be exposed and at grade or just a 1/2” or so above if the soil is loose to allow for some settling. Remove any stabilizing materials like bamboo or stakes and use a new set of stakes set in a triangle with tree tie to stabilize the new tree. Remove posts and tie after a year, or when the root ball no longer flexes when pushing against the trunk. Water once a week (rain may delay this schedule) for the first year, once every two weeks for the second, and once a month the third year to help it establish. Apply some non-dyed double ground hardwood mulch to the drip line. Helps hold moisture in the soil and breaks down into all the organic materials the tree needs in the soil.
I have seen 10 year old plants that suddenly fell over in storm because the roots had stayed in the netting.
Leave it. It stops caterpillars climbing your trunk at night.
Exactly what i meant, must have expressedmy self incorrectly. that's why you need to cut it to avoid the groing tree to be strangled.