[rivergirl]

I am curious about the best way to deal with the b&b stock in our mulch beds at our garden center that have been healed in and kept moist for about six months. In other words, the trees that didn't sell or were not used in landscape jobs that we got in last spring will have rooted in some (or a lot) and I know the obvious need to replace rotted burlap but are there any other tricks to keep the trees from stressing (from having to cut the newly grown roots) ? Or will they just root again in their new site after removal from the holding beds?

[jwholden]

In my parts the nurseries let them root into the mulch. I love buying a tree in the fall with 6-8" of roots popping through the burlap and stretching into the mulch. I ask that the nursery not cut the roots and simply wrap some burlap around them. I remove the new burlap and make sure all burlap and twine is removed from around the trunk when I plant the tree. This wouldn't work for a huge high production job, but on a specimen type tree I like it.

If the roots are over 1' long into the mulch they are cut about 4 inches outside the burlap and planted the same as I mentioned above.

Yes, this is more work for all involved. But I am very confident the tree is going to make it.

[VoodooChile]

Same story out here in the midwest, only difference being I don't take the old burlap off, since it is usually pretty trashed, and disturbs all those x-tra roots.

[GLAN]

We will take it from the nursery as is usualy. We are planting it right away so there is no need to wrap it again........If there is not enough wrap to begin with and soil is lose.......Most definitely trim away roots and rewrap the ball so we can handle it.

There is nothing realy with trimming the roots and rewraping

[HardDaysKnight]

Keep doing what you are doing rivergirl. Keep all these trees
and shrubs moist and protected. You are in retail, which means
to re-burlap at the end of your year and sell at a higher price
next season. Dont cut any roots. Just repackage into a larger
ball at a higher price. Is that what you were asking?

[rivergirl]

No not really HardDaysKnight but I am glad you mentioned it as I need to keep that in mind. Mostly at this stage I was just concerned if it would shock the trees badly being pulled out of the beds with roots losing their nice little moist home. But if they are dormant what's a little barerooting? But all of you gave me really good info. This site is great. So glad I found it. Kudo's to the creator.

[jwholden]

'The creator', I think someone head just got a little bigger.

[Bill Schwab]

Most everyone we used to buy from rebagged their materials if the burlap was too decomposed.

I was never hip on them until we began planting boxed plants, but I got to tell you. Boxed trees over bagged any day of the week. 10 times easier to move, change direction in the hole, sell, and even take back out of the hole after the client signs a change order.

[HardDaysKnight]

Originally posted by Bill Schwab
Most everyone we used to buy from rebagged their materials if the burlap was too decomposed.

I was never hip on them until we began planting boxed plants, but I got to tell you. Boxed trees over bagged any day of the week. 10 times easier to move, change direction in the hole, sell, and even take back out of the hole after the client signs a change order.

Bill, the nursery we shop at is the largest on the east coast.
I have only seen one boxed tree there. Everything here is in
large pots and then goes to b&b. I wish that would change
but I doubt it.

[Bill Schwab]

At first it was a major PIA for me to get used to...But consider this...You have a 3' wide space to get a 24" box in. You nail 2 2x4's, one on each side of the box, get 4 guys and carry it back to the hole. Or, you set a 48" box on top of a funiture dolly, and over ply wood roll it right back. In cases where we have machine access, drop it into a set of forks, or a bucket, away we go....And, the best part....Wood for our fireplace in the winter!

[HardDaysKnight]

How nice is that? God, I wish we had that here!
I reek with envy!

[Stonehenge]

Originally posted by jwholden
'The creator', I think someone head just got a little bigger.

lol - I think I should print rivergirl's post to pick me up on the difficult days.


Bill - why do you think that method of bundling up a rootball hasn't moved East? The expense of the lumber?

[treedoc1]

Cost of land is enormously more expensive in CA. Potted mix in the boxes is more cost effective than in the ground growing. Add in the higher labor cost in CA, the higher irrigation costs and you can't afford to grow B&B material out there.

[Bill Schwab]

I'm also betting concrete soil. You plant a tree, then come in every 6 months or so to root prune, you got some serious labor issues.

[GLAN]

Nursery I work out of gets most their large/expensive specimens/exotic plant material in crate containers.