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Gardenhaus,
This week we staked (3) 16' Cockspur Hawthornes that another company had planted and had tipped hard. They were tree form and had 24" rootballs, way undersized. I can't imagine how such material could be planted without staking...
When we do the planting we: 1) aim to install properly sized rootballs, 2) chock the balls with rocks at the base of the ball and hole, and 3) foot-tamp and flood with water to settle the soil. Still, some tipping occurs.
What method are you using to compact the soil around the ball? Isn't there a trade-off between overcompacting the soil, reducing rooting, and staking, avoiding the need to compact the soil so much and permitting rooting to occur?
Pelican,
I think lifting any plant by its top without supporting the weight of its root system is damaging. Essentially, gravity is pulling and tearing away at the roots.
I'd like a tutorial on using a sling too!
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