- Do I have to remove wire mesh from trees?
- Transplanting lilac
Do I have to remove wire mesh from trees?
Question:
When planting pine trees, do you need to remove the wire mesh fromaround the root ball, and if not, will the tree have problems growing?Martin T.Chaparral, NM
Answer:
You have asked a very important question. Many people think that wiremesh around a transplanted tree's rootball will rust and not cause a problem.In the alkaline soils of the Southwest, wire doesn't rust rapidly enough. Theplant may survive for several years, but then the roots will be girdled and cutby the wire. The plant will then die.
Improper planting is the reason many trees fail to establish or growpoorly in the Southwest. The wire is one of the problems, and improperpreparation of the planting site is another.
It is important to remove the wire from the rootball, but if you removethe wire from the rootball improperly, you can also damage the tree. It isimportant to remove the wire (and any burlap around the roots) AFTER thetree isplaced in the planting hole and you are ready to replace the soil in the hole.If you remove the wire before placing the tree in the hole, there is a goodchance that the rootball will be damaged when the tree is placed into thehole. Also, remember to loosen the soil in a large circle around the plantinghole, then dig the hole to be only as deep as the rootball. Just beforerefilling the hole, cut the wire at least two-thirds of the way down therootball and roll any burlap down to the bottom of the hole. Replace the soilwithout adding additional peatmoss, compost or manure. If you want to addamendments to the soil, do that over the entire area of the loosened soil.Once the soil is replaced, settle the soil by watering, not by tamping. It isimportant not to over-compact the soil.
Top of Page
Transplanting lilac
Question:
When is the best time to replant a lilac bush? We recently moved fromthe country to town, and I would like to replant my lilac bushes.
Answer:
The lilac is a vigorous shrub that will tolerate transplanting almostany time. The best time would be late winter just before it blooms. I havetransplanted it here in the summer when it is very hot and dry, and it stillgrew. More important than the time is the condition of the plant being moved.A young sprout dug from near the base of the lilac will transplant easily. Themature shrub will be more difficult to transplant. If it is the mature shrub,fall or winter would be the best time to transplant it.
If you have already dug your lilacs, plant them as soon aspossible. Ifyou must move them now, or never, move them now.
NOTICE:
LAS CRUCES 2nd ANNUAL ROSE SHOW will be held on May 12 at the MesillaValley Mall (between the J.C. Penney and Walgreen stores). Entries will beaccepted from 7:30 to 10:00 a.m.; judging will be from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00noon. Public viewing is from 12:00 to 2:00 p.m. The public is welcome to showtheir rose blossoms and to learn about roses in southern New Mexico. For moreinformation call Tom at 522-5580 or Mary Ann at 496-7114.
ALBUQUERQUE 2001 SPRING ROSE SHOW presented by the Albuquerque RoseSociety on Saturday, June 2 and Sunday, June 3 at the Albuquerque GardenCenter, 10120 Lomas Blvd., NE. Entries will be accepted from 7:30 to 10:00a.m. on Saturday. The show is open to the public on Saturday from 1:00 to 5:00p.m. and on Sunday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Top of Page
Send gardening questions to Southwest Yard and Garden, Attn: Dr. Marisa Thompson at desertblooms@nmsu.edu or at https://www.facebook.com/DesertBloomsNM/. Please include your county Extension Agent (aces.nmsu.edu/county) and your county of residence with your question!
For more gardening information, visit the NMSU Extension Horticulture page: desertblooms@nmsu.edu.
Marisa Y. Thompson, PhD, is the Extension Horticulture Specialist, in the Department of Extension Plant Sciences at the New Mexico State University Los Lunas Agricultural Science Center, office: 505-865-7340, ext. 113.
FAQs
It is important to remove the wire (and any burlap around the roots) AFTER the tree is placed in the planting hole and you are ready to replace the soil in the hole.
Should wire baskets be removed from trees? ›
You can leave the portions of the wire basket and burlap that are beneath the rootball, especially if you're transplanting large trees. The important parts to remove are the wire and burlap that are across the top of the rootball and around its sides.
Do you remove wire and burlap when planting trees? ›
For trees in wire baskets, cut and remove wire. Cut away strings & burlap or plastic, exposing root ball. Don't remove soil from ball. If tree is container grown, cut and remove container.
Should I remove root mesh? ›
So this is the death trap of plants. It's called root mesh, and nurseries use it for baby plants. Most of the time, they don't take it off when they repot into bigger pots, and it will slowly suffocate and kill the plant. This mesh helps regulate moisture.
What is the wire mesh around tree roots? ›
The wire mesh is used on the ground around trees, to prevent weeds or other vegetation from growing around the base of the tree, as well as to control erosion and provide a protective barrier around the root system.
How to remove wire from a tree? ›
Remove soil from the top of the root ball to find the trunk flare. If no flare is present (common on conifers), remove the soil to the top most root. Remove the top one-third of the wire basket. Pull back or remove burlap in the top one-third of the basket.
Why do you put wire around trees? ›
In regions where beavers, woodchucks or groundhogs live, wire mesh can prevent the animals from clawing, chewing and otherwise damaging tree trunks.
How long can you leave a tree in burlap? ›
A balled and burlapped plant can be held out of the ground for several weeks as long as it is sufficiently watered. For periods longer than that, it's best to temporarily heel the root ball into a soil or sawdust bed. But even that situation should be temporary. After about two months, untreated burlap begins to decay.
Can I plant a tree with burlap? ›
Cut away as much burlap as you can.
Roots grow laterally, so fabric under the ball can remain. Be sure the top of the root ball -- where the roots flare out from the trunk -- is at or above ground level.
When to remove burlap from plants? ›
Do You Overwinter Your Plants and Burlap? Here's When to Remove Those Materials, According to the Experts. It's important to take them off of your plants before the last frost of the season.
Tree roots are essential to the life of the tree, but sometimes they become obstacles around the yard. Tree roots can invade all types of home foundations and just about any type of driveway. Removing the roots is usually easier and less expensive than removing the entire tree.
What is the wire wrapped around a tree trunk? ›
A tree planted on a slope or on a windy site may need to be staked. Be sure to cover the wire around the trunk with a rubber hose to protect the trunk. Secure the wires so that there is some movement of the tree. As tree trunks grow, wires can cut into them restricting or cutting off sap flow.
What is the purpose of a wire mesh? ›
Wire mesh is commonly used in industrial applications when separation or filtration is needed; it is also popular for use in commercial applications, like insect screening or animal fencing.
Do I need wire mesh? ›
When it comes to concrete, you can't avoid cracks entirely, but wire mesh reinforcement will help hold the material together when they do occur. Also, it will help evenly distribute the weight of cars on your driveway. The added strength of steel is especially crucial if your subgrade isn't up to par.
Do trees grow around electrical wires? ›
They do grow there, but when the trees start to mature, the limbs become entangled with the lines and cause problems. So they (and any branches over or around the wires) are kept cut - or poisoned.
Should I remove stake from tree? ›
It's important to remove them a year after planting or after one full growing season. If trees are left staked for too long, the stakes can end up hindering growth, so don't forget about them! If you have any questions or concerns regarding your trees and stakes, contact Lawrence Landscape at (785) 843-4370.
Can trees touch electrical wires? ›
Tree limbs can conduct electricity. When trees grow near overhead wires, they can contact the wires and become energized. Trees and wires are dangerous, full of electrical power that can injure or kill humans.
Will tree roots grow through chicken wire? ›
The simple answer to this question is NO. Research has shown that a root growing near the wire will eventually grow into the wire. It will initially be indented by the wire and, as it continues to grow, will grow around the wire completely.
