dogwood tree

[Ray]

Hi folks!

I received a free dogwood tree-nice specimen-from a mail order place I use for ordering peach trees. It appears that the tap root was broken when they dug it from the field. SHould I compost it or try planting it anyway?

Have fun out there! Spring is only 68 days away!!!!

[Ann B.]

Ray,

If it were me, I would plant it right away. I have received numerous bareroot trees with the tap root cut off as well as the top. Sometimes, I think they do this in order to get them in the box. They all seem to make it, though.

It has been fairly warm here lately after a few really hard freezes, so it seems that spring is only a couple of weeks away, but we know better, don't we?

I am already ready for Spring, but trying hard to be patient.

Good Luck!

[Log Cabin Pat]

Ray
I have a woods full of Dogwood trees and have tried several times to put some in the yard with no success. I have also killed a lot of trees by putting them in pots first to grow larger, then over water or under water. Although I am not in your zone, the (window) for planting trees is now not in the spring. That is prob. why it was shipped now instead of in the spring. The experts now say not to amend the soil in the hole you dig, and not to fertilize it the first year. Although you can use organic fertilizer on it. If I remember right the tap root will never grow back.

I know everyone has planted trees, maybe we can get more opinions.

Pat

PS It is cold and rainy here. I can't do anything outside, I'm glad I have the green houses.

[mcplants]

Hi Ann and everybody!

I don't make it over here very often, but had a few minutes to spare.

Don't worry about the tap root. The tap root really should be at least have the tip cut off to force the tree to establish more lateral roots.

In the large wholesale nurseries they actually root prune trees a couple of years before they harvest them to develop a better rootsystem. They use to do this by hand "ugh", but they not straddle the row with a high clearance tractor and just run down the row under cutting all the trees.

Then the laborers have to go through and straighten the plants and tamp the soil back down around the roots.

I hope this helps.

-Mike

[Ray]

Thanks for all of the replies folks! The dormancy issue was well put by Ann. I actually pulled the dogwood out of the pot and planted her so Mrs. Ray in south louisiana wouldn't get upset over a pot in the yard. The back of the property is covered with my sagos and other cuttings and hidden by some large palmettos.

Pat, keep your head up. Spring is now only 64 days away. Ann, can we do a countdown?

best wishes for many roots on all of the little baby plants being born!!!!!!