Tree Planted Too Deep: The Hidden Killer of Young Trees

A declining young tree with peeling, splitting bark at the base is often a victim of deep planting. In heavy clay soils, tree roots spread horizontally like a pancake—no taproot. Balled-and-burlapped (B&B) trees frequently have their first major "flare root" buried deep in the root ball. If planted with the ball's top at grade, that flare root ends up inches too deep, leading to girdling roots, rot, and slow death.

The Fix: Plant High, Expose the Flare

Always locate the first major root and plant it within 1 inch of the soil surface. Remove excess soil from the top of the root ball before planting. The root flare must be visible.

Damage Is Often Irreversible

Once bark rots and girdling roots strangle the trunk, the tree cannot be saved. Prevention at planting is the only cure.

Photos illustrate: proper flare root, buried root ball, and cherry/maple/dogwood trees killed by deep planting.