ASHS 2024 Conference

Root defects, especially circling roots, are a major concern when planting container-grown trees. In this study, we compared survival, crown dieback, and plant water potential of four common landscape tree species (Carpinus caroliniana, Liriodendron tulipifera, Ostrya virginiana, and Platanus × acerifolia) in response to root modifications (control, bare-root washing, shaving, and vertical slicing) prior to planting. P. × acerifolia trees were robust with respect to root correction treatments and had 100% survival except for some mortality following vertical root-ball slicing. In contrast, C. caroliniana, L. tulipifera, and O. virginiana trees had significant mortality and crown dieback in response to bare-root washing. The responses of these species to bare-root washing reflected extreme plant moisture stress immediately after planting. These three species are also considered ‘difficult to transplant’ as bare-root nursery stock. Our results suggest that trees that are generally known to be difficult to transplant as bare-root stock are poor candidates for extreme root disturbance such as bare-rooting when grown as container trees. In contrast, shaving and vertical slicing had little or no adverse effects on tree survival, crown dieback, or plant water potential.