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I am a new homeowner and have never planted anything in my life. That being said, I recently purchased 2 maple trees (Norway Maple and an Autumn Blaze Red Maple) to plant in my backyard for shade. Dug up my holes and planted the trees with some top soil. My question is... I don't think I did a very good job of unraveling the roots as the trees were potted when I purchased them. I'm concerned that the roots will not grow properly because I didn't unravel them very well and the trees may die. Should I be concerned?
The trees are already in the ground, so there's no going back at this point. I water them regularly and I'm hoping they remain alive and healthy.
Wait until they're going dormant and shedding leaves, then dig them up and straighten the roots. I doubt they have rooted into the surrounding soil in just two weeks.
Personally I wouldn't keep the Norway Maple since its listed as an invasive species.
Wait until they're going dormant and shedding leaves, then dig them up and straighten the roots. I doubt they have rooted into the surrounding soil in just two weeks.
Personally I wouldn't keep the Norway Maple since its listed as an invasive species.
I agree, I always unravel the roots when planting something new. If it's root bound it could die eventually. I think it's worth digging it up and unraveling the roots just to be sure.
Location: East of Seattle since 1992, 615' Elevation, Zone 8b - originally from SF Bay Area
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Can you recall how much the roots were visibly running around the outside of the pots? If they were in the pots a long time and tight, you will have problems. If the roots were barely visible and there was soft soil falling off when you pulled off the pot, they will most likely be OK. On this forum it's always helpful to mention where you are, or better yet the USDA hardiness zone. If your weather has cooled off you could dig them back up, tickle the roots and replant now.
If you are in a cold winter climate you don't want to mess with them when it's below freezing, so better to do now or wait until spring before the buds swell, but after the ground thaws.
Keeros,
Your atitude is the trees are already in the ground. You aren't going to replant them
anyway. So, why post here?
If they live, they live. If they don't leaf out next year, you will know.
It's so easy just to google "planting a tree" and follow the instructions online.
So, if one dies, google for instructions when you go to plant another one next spring.
Can you recall how much the roots were visibly running around the outside of the pots? If they were in the pots a long time and tight, you will have problems. If the roots were barely visible and there was soft soil falling off when you pulled off the pot, they will most likely be OK. On this forum it's always helpful to mention where you are, or better yet the USDA hardiness zone. If your weather has cooled off you could dig them back up, tickle the roots and replant now.
If you are in a cold winter climate you don't want to mess with them when it's below freezing, so better to do now or wait until spring before the buds swell, but after the ground thaws.
The roots were visible, but not to nearly to the point where they'd become a wrap around the dirt. The dirt was soft and easily came off.
I am in North Carolina, zone 7. The weather has cooled off considerably over the past week or so.
I would prefer to leave them be, and not dig them up. But if I have to, I'll do it.
Keeros,
Your atitude is the trees are already in the ground. You aren't going to replant them
anyway. So, why post here?
If they live, they live. If they don't leaf out next year, you will know.
It's so easy just to google "planting a tree" and follow the instructions online.
So, if one dies, google for instructions when you go to plant another one next spring.
You are right, I would prefer to leave them in the ground. But I thought the forum was for questions? And all I did was ask whether or not the trees would survive if I didn't unravel the roots. Yeah, it's easy to google instructions, but being completely inexperienced at planting anything, I didn't want to "damage" the roots by pulling or tugging on them so I didn't do much unraveling.
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