What is a root flare and why is it so critical when planting?

land that has been dug up around tree roots


What is the root flare and why is it one of the most important things to know when planting?
 We plant a lot of trees mostly balled and burlapped or B&B, along with some smaller ones in containers.  The industry adage has always been “better high than die”, meaning it is better to set the top of the root ball higher than the surrounding grade.
If we were to plant a B&B tree so that the top of the root ball was 1-2” above the surrounding grade would it be right?  You can’t plant a tree and expect it to thrive if you don’t know where the root flare is.  The root flare is where the tree trunk meets the roots and “flares” out.  This could be at the top of the root ball or 5” below the top of the root ball.   If it were 5” below and we planted the tree 1-2” high, we would actually be planting the tree 3-4” too low.
What’s the beg deal with planting the tree too low?   Will my tree die?  The answer to that question is a definite maybe.  If you plant a tree low, it can develop a secondary root system to compensate for the lack of moisture should be receiving.  The secondary roots grow toward the surface rather than out from the tree.  There is also the chance that these secondary roots can become girdling roots that can slowly choke the tree to death.  Trees planted too deeply are also susceptible to truck rot and primary root suffocation.  This situation can also develop even if the tree is planted properly, when too much mulch is put around the tree. This is typically termed a mulch volcano.
Typically a B&B tree has a wire basket, burlap, and sisal twine to secure the tree in the basket and keep the root ball tight, so how are you supposed to know where the root flare is when everything is all wrapped up?  We cut away some of the burlap, without cutting the sisal twine and do some preliminary digging to find the flare.  We can then dig the hole to the proper depth so that the root flare is set a few inches above the surrounding grade.  Once the tree is in the hole, we can cut away the sisal and burlap and excavate the necessary soil from the top of the root ball.  If there are any secondary roots, they should be removed at this time along with any girdling roots.
Although this is common for B&B trees it can also be common in container plants as well.  We planted a Japanese holly hedge about 6 years ago and every plant was buried 5-6” requiring us to remove that excess potting media and secondary roots.  There plants were in #15 containers, they were large and there were quite a few of them.   I am happy to say they all look great and have continued to thrive, if we had not noticed the issue it is likely that we might have had to rip them out and replace them.
The effects from planting improperly won’t show up right away, it could be years or decades.   Imagine you planted a tree for shade on your patio 10 -15 years ago.  The tree has matured nicely, but maybe took longer than anticipated.  Now it is starting to thin and just doesn’t look that great.  You have an arborist evaluate the tree and they tell you it was planted too deep, the girdling roots are slowly choking it to death and it has to be removed, losing the shade on your patio all because it was planted incorrectly. Trees should never look like a telephone pole coming out of the ground and roots wrapping around a tree are a sure sign that this tree is not going to live a long healthy life.

Professional Landscaping Services in Fort Washington, PA, and Throughout Montgomery County, Philadelphia County, and Bucks County

Bala Cynwyd

Bala Cynwyd

Blue Bell

Blue Bell

Chestnut Hill

Chestnut Hill

Dresher

Dresher

North Wales

North Wales

Spring House

Spring House

Plymouth Meeting

Plymouth Meeting

Wyndmoor

Wyndmoor

Fort Washington

Fort Washington

Jenkintown

Jenkintown

Meadowbrook

Meadowbrook

Rydal

Rydal

Flourtown

Flourtown

Gladwyne

Gladwyne

learn more about the services we offer.

From solving drainage problems to creating elegant outdoor living areas, our experienced team can manage even the most complex outdoor projects. For specialty elements, we bring in our trusted partners and monitor their contribution to ensure they meet our standards, allowing you to continue working with one point of contact. This is what we can do for you:

Landscape Design

We take the time to truly understand your objectives, whether that is to create an outdoor oasis for your family, increase value and curb appeal, save water and energy with low-maintenance solutions, or all of the above. Our designs account for every detail of your space. Visit our Landscape Design page to learn more.

Landscape Installation

Our talented craftspeople and experienced horticulturists specialize in elegant plantings, pergolas, water features, patios, walkways, and so much more. We maintain industry certifications and affiliations, including ICPI, NALP, PLNA, and PCH, among others. Visit our Landscape Installation page to learn more.

Landscape Maintenance

Our full-service maintenance programs are customized to meet your property needs with services like weeding, mulch installation, deadheading, pruning, bed care, seasonal cleanup, seasonal flower installation, and lawn mowing. Visit our Landscape Maintenance page to learn more.

Outdoor Living

By designing an outdoor living space that matches your interests and accommodates your desired lifestyle, you make better use of your property and spend more time outside. Consider what an outdoor kitchen, fire pit, fireplace, or paver patio could mean for your daily life. Visit our Outdoor Living page to learn more.

Landscape Lighting

The right landscape lighting can increase visibility, increase value, deter trespassers, and create a specific ambiance in your backyard or front yard. It is a simple way to upgrade your existing landscape or make it a part of your holistic outdoor transformation. Visit our Landscape Lighting page to learn more.

Drainage

Without proper drainage, your plants, hardscaping, and home's foundation are at risk of water damage. Drainage solutions can be built inconspicuously into the landscape to protect your property. Visit our Drainage page to learn more.

Commercial Services

We offer snow removal, landscape design and installation, drainage solutions, and landscape maintenance for commercial properties of all shapes and sizes. Visit our Commercial Services page to learn more.