Can You Identify the Maintenance Issue? Plant Material Maintenance

Problem #1

Problem #1: Planting depth; tree planted too deep.

An older tree, planted at the correct depth, should show some root flare. Lacebark Elm see Morton Arboretum

Problem #2

Problem #2: Two different plants planted too close together!

Problem #3

Problem #3: When the retaining wall was constructed, soil was dumped around the base of the tree. This will reduce oxygen availability to the root system and may also cause the trunk to rot. or The limestone base under the front walk may slowly be raising the soil pH and causing a severe iron chlorosis problem. River Birch is very sensitive to iron chlorosis.

Problem #4

Problem #4: Wrong tree in the wrong place; this now mature White Pine is too large a tree for a small, residential lot.

Problem #5

Problem #5: Circling roots; when this tree was planted the “circling roots” issue was never addressed. Now that the tree has grown those roots have also increased in diameter and are girdling the trunk. This is especially a problem if the tree was grown in a hard, plastic container.

Problem #6 Green Ash

Problem #6: Frost cracks; common on certain species of tree they can provide an entry point for disease- causing organisms; typically occur on the south-southwest side of the trunk.

Problem #7 Crabapple

Problem #7: Apple Scab; this fungal disease causes early defoliation.

Problem #8

Problem #8: Fertilizer burn on a lawn; fertilizers are salts and their over-application can burn a lawn or tender plant.

Problem #9 Green Ash Douglas-fir

Problem #9: Freezing temperatures; this new growth was damaged by freezing temperatures.

Problem #10

Problem #10: Root suckers; Crabapples seem to produce a lot of root suckers and if the Crabapple was grafted the suckers may have different colored leaves than the rest of the plant.

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