We're complete beginners. We moved in our house a few years ago and had an apple tree planted last year. Since this sub appeared in my feed I've been worrying that maybe the tree is planted too deep. But for all my googling Im not getting any wiser.
I've tried digging carefully around the tree, and I've found some of the wires from the net/bag the tree was in, when it was delivered, but im afraid to dig too much in case i break something.
Hopefully someone can educate me: Is it too deep? What should I do?
by Rapsakord
6 Comments
Im a novice myself but every plant that i know of or have planted myself, youre supposed to have the root flare exposed. Im sure an expert will way in but i think you need to raise it or lower the earth around it
Removing those bricks would be helpful
I wonder if this is the flare or the false flare. Some trees, especially apple trees, are grafted so they might have a thicker bump at the bottom near the flare, but you actually need to keep digging further down to see the roots flare out.
Not an arborist but comparing to our Apple trees, it looks just about right 👍
Borderline. Like, I can see the top of the root flare, so it’s not too bad. Maybe expose just a *smidge* more.
But you definitely have to get rid of that ring of death (the pavers). Try having a ring of basic mulch around the tree out to about the dripline (just not touching the trunk).
You’ve found the root flare and I don’t think it was buried enough to have to replant.
Personally, I would remove the stones and create a live edge mulch ring then grade the soil slightly away from the trunk. You will have to do a bit more excavating but it should be doable without creating a bowl effect.
Also, those little feeder roots around the trunk can be pruned, the tree won’t even notice it.