Tips for Choosing a Healthy Tree

Purchasing an ornamental tree for the garden or landscape is a long-term investment. It's important to start with a healthy and shapely tree. Always give the tree an overall inspection to determine if the tree has been cared for properly by the grower and seller. Starting with a healthy tree will improve its chances for survival after being planted. Many retail outlets and even nurseries sell inferior quality trees at the price of quality specimens.

It's best to buy from a nursery that is knowledgeable about what they sale. A reputable company selling healthy trees will offer a guarantee on their plant material as well. Just don't forget to save the receipt. Many companies will offer a guarantee for one full year, but if that receipt is not available a year later, it's useless. Write on the back of the receipt exactly what type of plant was purchased. Keep the receipts in an envelope and file them together. It often helps to keep the informational plant tag if available and file that with the receipt as well.

Inspect the Leaves

The overall appearance of the tree is the first indication if the tree is healthy. The leaves should be healthy, bright and the appropriate color for the season. Inspect the leaves for insects and signs of disease. Many insects reside on the underside of the leaves, so always check there.

The leaves should not be yellowing and dropping when it's not autumn. That's a sign the tree is under some type of stress. It could be a sign of disease, crowded pot-bound roots or improper water requirements. Regardless of what has caused the problem, the tree is unhealthy and may not live through the transplant. If a tree doesn't look healthy, it probably isn't and won't be a good investment.

Inspect the Trunk

A healthy tree should not have any signs of damage on the trunk. A tree that has been handled roughly resulting in deep gouges to the trunk is much more susceptible to diseases and insects. The tree should have a good form with a central strong trunk. Trees with multiple trunks should be avoided unless this is normal for the species, such as a birch. A tree with good form will not have branches crossing each other in an unnatural way. As branches grow in diameter, they will eventually rub together causing damage.

A healthy tree purchased during the growing season should show signs of new growth. If purchasing in early spring and the tree is still dormant, there are still ways to check the tree's health. Whether the tree is actively growing or not, the tips of branches will be flexible. The tip of a young branch should bend without breaking, even when the tree is dormant. Gently scrap the bark of a dormant tree with a fingernail. A limb that is alive will show green just barely beneath the bark.

Tips to Inspect a Balled and Burlapped Tree

Healthy roots are a must when purchasing a tree and should be examined. Trees are available to purchase in containers or in a balled and burlapped form. The latter form known as B&B in the industry will allow for the purchase of a bigger tree. The tree is allowed to grow much larger in a field than in a container. Heavy equipment digs the root-ball and it is then wrapped in a piece of burlap material. A larger price can also be expected with this type of tree. A balled and burlapped tree is usually more expensive than a container-grown tree because of the extra expense of digging it.

A balled and burlapped tree's roots are difficult to inspect because they can't be taken out of the burlap. Even so, check to see if the burlap is tight on the root ball. A loose piece of burlap and a tree trunk that is wobbly in its root-ball could indicate damage to the root system. This damage can occur when the tree is dug in the field or during shipment. Also, check for signs of extreme drought. The root ball should not be extremely dry and crumbly to the touch. If the tree looks wilted, the root-ball has probably not been watered enough. It takes more water and patience to adequately soak a B & B root-ball. The tree roots are more difficult to keep moist so root- rot is usually never an issue with this type of tree.

Tips to Inspect a Container-Grown Tree

A tree that has been grown in a container should not be pot-bound. This is a definite sign the tree has been neglected. Inspect the soil at the top of the container. It should not have visible thick roots circling the top of the dirt. Once the tree has been in a container for much too long, the roots will begin growing in a circular motion. This makes it more difficult for the tree roots to adjust and spread after planting.

If the roots are not visible on the surface, but instead the soil surface is covered with weeds or moss then the tree has been in the container a long time. This is another sign the tree may be pot-bound and neglected. An extremely pot-bound tree is not going to be as healthy when transplanted.

Ask the retailer to allow the roots to be inspected. When the tree is lifted from the pot, check for mushy black roots. This is an indication of root-rot. There should not be so many roots in the container that soil is not visible anymore. This condition shows how extremely pot-bound the tree is as well. There should be almost equal amounts of soil and roots visible.

Bigger is Not Always Better

When it comes to purchasing a tree, bigger is not necessarily better. This is especially true if the tree is being planted by the home gardener. A small tree that is healthy will usually adjust to the transplant easier than a very large tree. It will just require a little more patience for the tree to reach maturity. That's not a bad thing, considering once a healthy tree is established it will remain part of the landscape for many years to come.

One of the main benefits of purchasing a large tree is instant gratification. Obviously the tree will be more noticeable and possibly add a little shade. It's best to have a large tree installed by professional landscapers. The tree is already going to be more expensive due to its size, so it's a good idea to pay the extra expense of installation. The installation of the tree should always be guaranteed by the landscaping company. The directions given for the care of the tree must be followed, but if the tree doesn't survive the transplant the company will be obligated to replace the tree. Just be certain this is stated in the installation contract.