Greetings I purchased a Japanese Maple: Koto No Ito and after getting it home and beginning the prep to plant discovered that it had been girdled by plastic twine. I am concerned that the viability of the tree has been seriously compromised and that it is probably inadvisable to plant. Size and weight are factors as well - too heavy to be moving around too much so I would be most grateful for comments as to plant or take back. There is also a large wire basket around the root ball (which I was told to leave re stability) which concerns me re possible future issues with roots. Pics below. And......I would love to hear from anyone as to planting and growing this particular 'Acer Palm Koto No Ito'. I was thrilled to purchase it, love the looks, colour and leaves. I live in Port Coquitlam - up on the south hill - which means that the ground about 2 feet below the grass is rock, gravel and hardpacked sand (this was a quarry area :-) ) The JM is to replace a large (24 yr old) Sakura (cherry blossom) tree which had excessive root eruption and growth (base of tree ended up 18 inches above surrounding area). I suspect we'll need to use a pick and break up as much of the ground below as we can prior to planting, The Sakura was removed and the stump and surrounding roots ground/chipped so we can plant in the same area. many thanks in advance for your suggestions/comments. best regards Shelley ps - I should add - most of the twine was removed - a section (shown in the 1st pic) cannot be removed and is imbedded in the tree. The 'scar' around the base is from twine that for the most part was removable. Didn't discover the twine until I pulled away moss and dirt - lesson #1 no matter how thrilled you are about getting a new tree/plant be a bit more thorough than I was in checking it out.
If you can pull the twine out and get the wire basket off tree can continue on. However, crown looks so minimal that tree may lack much vigor. Its condition before planting determines how readily a plant establishes after planting. This specimen looks poor enough that planting may be waste of time (and money), the tree just going on to decline further and die instead of establishing and developing into an attractive feature. http://www.puyallup.wsu.edu/~linda chalker-scott/FactSheets/Planting fact sheet.pdf Looks like vendor did not even bother to set it in the box upright, with adequate potting soil - in addition to the twine and wire being left in place.
Hi Ron - thank you for your reply. Can't pull the rest of the twine out - approx 6cm is 'in' the tree. I wasn't sure about the growth/crown - have never purchased a specimen such as this (and actually all of my tree purchases to date have been smaller so decidedly a lack of experience :-) ) found some good pics on the forum http://www.botanicalgarden.ubc.ca/forums/showthread.php?t=2178 I won't be able to tell until the box is taken off as to how difficult it will be to remove the wire basket - no doubt a pair of tin snips and some effort. Am somewhat in agreement with the comment about whether or not it is worth the time/money to plant it :-( .
I'd return the tree, and avoid the nursery it was purchased from in the future. It's always sad to see people ruin valuable plants due to neglect, such as failure to remove twine, burlap and wire cages. One of my hobbies is to go around and free young landscape trees from their support stakes and rubber straps.
Yes, and you have to wonder a bit about the nursery (which in this case happens to be a large, well-established family run biz). I've thought a great deal on this and am going out to look for another one - I especially want to get the Koto No Ito so I'm hoping I can find another specimen in healthier condition and hopefully close to the same size without it being an expensive purchase :-( . Will most likely be taking this back tomorrow morning. Oh well, it's a lovely day so perfect for wandering around a garden shop. thanks for your help
I doubt that a graft, if any, is near the twine. The bulging is a clue that the tree has a serious defect. Very likely that the cambium has been completely destroyed at the girdle. I'm referring to the larger diameter stem above the twine, while the stem below is narrower. That indicates that the problem is long established, not just a one season or one year oversight. Nutrients are going up, and being made into food in the leaves, then transported down the phloem, only as far as the girdle. Hence, feeding from the girdle upward, but the girdle down to the roots has not been fed, but starved, and may be weakened. See the attached photo of a girdled deodar cedar. See the bulge above the girdle? Trees cannot be fed with "tree food". The stem is a two way highway. Nurtrients go up in the xylem with water and food from leaves after photosythesis moves down near the phloem area, just under bark close to the cambium. The only reason the cedar lived a bit longer, was that a few branches under the girdle make food for the tree below the girdle. Almost certainly, you would want to exchange that tree. Its possible that it could survive, but I'd say about 85% that its going to have some kind of problem that won't go away. Sometimes the twine is illusive. If you remove twine in the future, try to remove an inch of soil if possible to look for another. On rare occassions, an older second twine may have been left on and concealed slightly deeper.
Many thanks to everyone for their input - it was and is greatly appreciated. We took the tree back and received a full refund (offered a credit but refused due to the amount and the fact that the tree was damaged). Am on the look out for a new one (at a different nursery :) ) and am also going to check out the forum for suggestions on type although I am somewhat partial to the Koto No Ito :-) I will certainly be more thorough in checking out a tree this time around all the best Shelley
Hi neonfrog, I had a similar experience. I got a large tree home, took the burlap off, and it was completely girdled by twine. When I took it back, the nursery gave me a hard time about returning it. So I was really happy to see everyone's response to your situation. It confirmed to me that I had done the right thing and that I was right to stand my ground and get my money back.
A percentage of local outlets are dumps run by goofballs. If they don't take enough pride in what they are doing to present an attractive shopping environment with good-looking stock, don't shop there.
It is unfortunate that this has affected a long-standing relationship with a local nursery - I have been purchasing plants from them for almost 30 years. I am going to follow up with them as to this particular issue, basically to satisfy a couple of questions I have. Anyone have any recommendations for purchasing maple trees in the Metro Vancouver area? I've popped across to Langley and a nursery there is checking to see if they can find a koto no ito for me - because I'm looking for a more mature speciment it's a bit harder to find. Shelley
Japanese maples are highly popular at present, with a wide range of different kinds on the market. It seems you should be able to find something suitable.
