Red Maple Trees

go do it

i need help

we had our yard landscaped 3 mos. ago and we have 2 six foot maples that don't look so good, their branches are drooping and the leaves are brown around the edges.

i wasn't home but the wife said that the hole that they dug was just big enough for the ball and they planted the trees like that. i wish she would have told me sooner !

our soil is real hard, compacted granit. should we dig a bigger hole to let the roots spread out or just water and not disturb the roots at this point.

i really don't know what to do. out of the whole landscaping job those trees are the only thing i really cared about.

thanks

concretemasonry

Inform the person that planted the trees of the problem you observe (with photos) and see what he proposes. Undoubtedly, you have at least a one year guarantee of maybe more for a tree of that size. - Just make sure you go on record to report it and can document the problem and notification.

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Dick

Engineer, designer and consultant recently active domestically and internationally on construction and design in about 35 countries.

CookeCarpentry

x2 with what Dick said - should be a warranty of some sort (especially on trees that size).

I would notify the landscaping company in writing of the problem and hope they rectify it with a sensible solution. I am no landscaper, but have GC'd many a landscape job for customers and don't know the exact dimensions but the hole should be like 2x the diameter of the rootball.

Perhaps some in-house CT landscapers can help you out...

go do it

the landscaper left town and went back to California where she was from.

we do have a warrenty for the trees but i was wanting to save them.

the rule of thumb that i have always heard was also 2x the rootball for the hole size but that was not done.

maybe i can pour some 5 hour energy into them

chris n

Dig them back up and plant them properly,making sure that the wire ball was,is removed and any nylon string( if there was one).Add some new peat moss to the hole and some root promoter.

Deckman100

Replanting sounds like a good idea. Use some good composting.

Tom Struble

don't add too much compost to a tree,mostly you want to loosen up the soil so the roots can get a good start
don't replant them too deep,better a little high,water well then add a 2-3'' layer of compost to the base,pulling it away from the trunk
and keep them watered,1'' of water a week until they establish

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Tom

Markinthegarden

I see it has been a while since you posted this. I am wondering how your trees are doing and if you did replant them.
I did want to comment that the 2X rule is a good one to follow, but not essential and not the most important consideration.
As has been stated, removing the wire basket from the root ball is important, but is often not done.

Rio

My dad was a farmer as a youth and he always said, "plant a 1 dollar tree in a 10 dollar hole". As well as removing any bindings around the root ball, make sure that the roots aren't root bound, pull on them if necessary to get them from growing in a circle. Also be sure and don't put the dirt too high up the trunk as this can kill a tree, especially if it has a root graft to a scion graft: no dirt near the graft..................