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Appendix D. Tree and Shrub Planting Guidelines Proper soil preparation provides the opportuniliy lor the roots of new plant material to grow lar be- yond the original planting hole, However, iI is criti- calthat the planting process give the tree or shrub the desired environment to enable the total recov- ery of the root system, The greatest potential killer of newly planted trees and shrubs in Colorado is probably a lack 01 oxy- gen within the plants root zone, Oxygen starva- tion can be caused in many ways; planling in com- pacted soils, planting too deeply, planting over loosened/prepared soils, excessive watering, too frequent shallow watering, etc, The amount 01 long term maintenance required by any given plant can Irequently be directly related to the care given that plant during the establish- ment period, GUIDELINES: . Select only those trees and shrubs that are in vigorous healthy condition and have good form. . Most trees that have been pruned for form will have wide angled branches at various levels and locations around the trunk. Branchee should not have been stubbed back to "reduce loliage". . Do not remove short leafy branches on the trunk for at least one Dr two years. . Select trees and shrubs that have not bsen "manhandled". Root hair cen be damaged on container plants N the containers are roughly handled. Tree trunka cen be damaged when trees are moved by grasping the trunk; there- fore always Insist that planta be picked up by the containers. . Wbh contracllbld plant material carafully in- specl ell kplant material lor damage before in- stallation;reject all damaged plants, . Keep all root balls and containers moist before planting, " Plant during the spring iI possible. However, fall and summer planting can be successlul, but will require a higher level and longer period 01 establishment care. . Plant out of, and not into, a slope;otherwise there may not be sufficientd oxygen available lor root growth, . Do not overprune, Trees and shrubs that need pruning prior to planting can adequately be re- duced In size by "natural" thinning and structu- ral pruning, . Planting pils should be either at least twelve inches greater in diameter Dr twice the width 01 the root ball, which ever is greater, . Planting pits should have vertical sides and not taper towards the center. . Planting pits should be at least hal' filled wilh water which is allowed to soak in before plant- Ing, . Sidas of the pit should be rough and Irregular, rather than smooth or slick. . Planting pits for trees should be approximately 2-4 Inches less In depth than the root ball. II a largar pills dug II should be wider rather than deeper. However, a pit can be dug deeper around the outer rim, creating an undisturbed pedestal to establish the planting depth. Plant- ing container stock too deep is a common prob- lem and can cause the death of the plant mate- rial. . Do not prepare soil below the root ball's desira- ble planting depth. II the soil has been dis- turbed below where the ball is to sit make sure thai it Is heavily compacted before planting. Some undesirable seltllng could still occur when the pit becomes wet. . There is no such thing as a 'plantable' contain- er. Wire mesh baskets and nylon rope restrict luture root and top growth and can act as slow 'killers'. Remove all containers including wire, so-called plantable containers and all nylon ropes, lithe ball is too loose for removing wire, the plant should be rejected. II burlap wrapped, remove the burlap from at least the top 1/3 01 the ball. Also remove all wire, twine, and plas- tic cord that is wrapped around any other pert 49.