Proverbial heartbreak. It was painful to drive through the HOA and see the scars and evidence of incorrectly planted trees. Criminal. There were over 15 trees that were installed by a landscape company that was paid for their unprofessional installation. Was there not one person who knew how to plant a tree properly?

Before working with a tree company, find out if they are certified tree arborists or knowledgeable landscapers who can correctly plant a tree.  Always take delivery “packaging” off a tree’s root ball.  This includes burlap, metal baskets, plastic, straps, wires, and anything rubber. Don’t listen to the comments of “nurseries won’t guarantee the tree if we take the basket off” or “the burlap will decompose.” If the tree is not healthy enough to take the wire basket off, it’s not healthy enough to plant. And it takes years for burlap to decompose and your tree may not survive long enough for it to rot.

Don’t risk it and certainly don’t pay for it.

University of Florida/IFAS publication on planting a tree correctly.