My landscapers planted 3 columnar blue spruce 8 ft tall from pots and did not remove the string holding the root ball together. Will this hinder the root establishment? They have been in the ground about 2 wks. Suggestions?
If you can't get them to come back and do it right dig around the trees, remove the string and wrappings from tops and sides. You will just have to leave it on the bottoms if you are not able to dig up and replant the trees yourself. Unless they come back and do it the right way after being contacted do not give them anymore of your money. Even when aware of modern methods there is a problem with those in the trade who are convinced customers will kill properly planted specimens and then come back to them about it, so they continue to plant with intact root-balls, even with wrappings and ties still in place. I even still hear clerks at a major independent garden center here telling shoppers to amend planting hole back-fill, in addition to leaving root-balls untouched. http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~linda chalker-scott/FactSheets/Planting fact sheet.pdf
Thanks, I removed what was left on root balls. I planted a 15' Colorado Blue Spruce at the same time as these Columnars. Is there a product that I should apply to all of them before winter? I put root stimulator on them at time of planting.
