#rootflare

🌲🌳 Tree Doctor: another day, another suffering tree rescued! You can see the dampness on the lower trunk of this Acer palmatum. This shows how high the compost level was in its pot. Left like this, the tree would struggle to grow, perform quite poorly and you'd be left wondering what you'd done wrong and why it eventually died. 🌲🌳 Simple solution: carefully remove the top layer of compost from any pot-grown tree and look for the 'root flare' - where the lowest part of the trunk naturally widens before the roots. There may be some aerial roots on the wet trunk (as in this case). Simply rub these out if tiny, or cut them back to the trunk with secateurs. Plant the tree with the root flare at soil level and it should reward you with years of happy growth! #tree #root #rootflare #treeplanting #treesurgery #treecare #acer #palmatum #containergrown #treedoctor

Tree doctor: You can just about make out this poor, spindly Sorbus tree (top right). It’s been growing poorly for some time because it’s planted too deep (left pic). Here I’ve exposed the lower trunk and root flare so it can ‘breathe’ and lignify. It may be necessary to raise and replant it at the correct level in autumn. #treesurgery #treedoctor #rootflare #sorbus #tree #plantproblems #troubleshooting