ReThink your RePlanting

Most trees can live a long time, so long that it almost seems like they will be around forever. Well, as we all know, “stuff” happens. Storms, diseases, and old age inevitably occur. Part of owning and caring for trees is dealing with loss. When a large tree falls, a tremendous void is made, literally and figuratively. It’s like an old friend is gone and now you’re left in the blinding sun. You’ve lost all your energy-saving shade, and now your neighbors have a full view of you in your pajamas. We’ve got some tips to help you make a good re-planting decision.

1. You don’t have to plant a tree in the same place as the original. We know, it’s difficult to imagine a tree in any other place than where your original tree was, but after removing the tree and grinding out the stump, there will still be a large amount of roots which take a long time to decompose. This will make the planting of a new tree nearly impossible, and it is not ideal for the new tree’s roots. Consider a different place for the new tree, or plant it at least 6’ away from the old tree’s stump. If the original tree was young or small, you may be able to plant a nice new one in the same spot.
2. You don’t have to choose a super-fast growing tree as replacement. One thing we hear all the time is, “We lost a tree, but we are getting up there in age and don’t have the time to wait for something to grow.” We hate to burst your bubble, but there isn’t going to be a magical tree that becomes full grown in a matter of a few years. Obviously faster growing trees grow faster, but asking if they will be fifty feet tall in a couple of years is unrealistic. Even though fast growing trees have their place, they may not be the best choice for all locations.
3. You can view the loss as a new opportunity. The glass is always halfway full, right? The tree is gone, so now you can finally get that turfgrass established where it was once too shady. Who knows, that new sunny area could be all the inspiration you need to install a beautiful new sun-garden.

A lot of our customers at Bentley Ridge Tree Farm & Nursery have homes in suburban developments that were recently corn fields, so they aren’t dealing with the large tree loss scenario that was presented above. However, they do occasionally lose a newly planted tree. Tree loss in the first year after planting usually comes down to two things underwatering/overwatering or improper planting technique. Both of these things can be easily prevented if the proper research or questions are asked at the time of purchase. If your tree doesn’t make it the first time around you can accept the possibility that maybe you cared for it improperly, or you can do some research and come up with other potential reasons that the tree died (ex. bad soil, bad placement, bad weather, or ornery wildlife). When trees die, it is up to you to decide if you want to try again. You can try replanting the same type of tree in the same spot for the first replacement, but if you are struggling getting a tree established and it is the 3rd time around, it is definitely time to try a different species or different location in your yard. Either the tree you selected was not appropriate for the site, or you have an underlying issue with the soil. 
The good news behind all of this is that we are here to help, if you bring in pictures to us, or email us questions or concerns about your tree or shrub, we will do our best to make sure those issues get resolved, and that you end up with a happy tree!


Hayley Egeland
Horticulturist, Bentley Ridge Tree Farm