A Less-Than-Ideal Potted Tree? Even Natives Can Have Problems.
Last August I ended up with a mistreated winged elm ( Ulmus alata ). This interesting tree, native from north central Florida northward, has corky extensions on its branches, which is why it's called a "winged" elm. The branches make it a good addition to your landscape for its year-round interest. It had been headed back at least twice and branches were coming from everywhere. This is why you rinse away all the soil from a potted tree. The first thing I did was water it in its pot, but when I was ready to plant it I rinsed ALL the soil from the roots. (Who knew that they'd be so red?) There are several reasons for this: 1) If the tree has been sitting in that pot for a year or more, there are virtually no nutrients left in the soil. 2) Many times trees that have been potted and repotted are too deep in the soil. Rinsing the soil away will reveal the root flare and this should be at or slightly above ground level when planted. ...