Question
QUESTION: I planted the above crabapple in April of 2006.  It has grown approx 3 feet since, flowers beautifully in the spring, and displays fruit in the fall.  I noticed today, however, that when I pushed on the trunk the rootball seemed to be loose as if I could have pulled the tree out of the ground if I gave it some effort.  I have planted many trees and this has never happened before.  It appears as if it has not taken root as it should have.  Hopefully, it's not "girdled".  Any suggestions?  Thanks!

ANSWER: Sounds like it is maybe root bound. Since I do not know how it was planted I can only give the correct method of planting trees. Dig the hole twice the size of the root ball and as deep and remove any burlap and wire from the rootball before planting. Loosen the rootball before planting. Fill the hole with good top soil and mulch around the tree with not more than 3 inches deep of organic mulch not piled up on the trunk.

IF the tree is planted in a hole the size of the root ball and the soil is clay there is a risk of the roots not growing out. Sometimes when the hole is dug in clay soil the sides of the hole are compacted with the digging and the hole becomes a "pot like structure" in the ground and the root can not grow outward.

You might try digging around the tree out from the original hole and loosing the soil and see if the roots will respond. Do not dig a trench around the tree this may damage the roots that have grown out just loosen the soil in sections around the tree. IF the roots are growing in a circle around the stem there is not much that can be done. I would try applying fertilizer out from the trunk and the original hole and see if that might encourage roots to grow outward. Use about 1 cup of 10-10-10 fertilizer per inch of trunk diameter scattered around the tree and watered in good. IF the ground is not frozen there I would fertilize now and again in the spring.


---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: First of all, thank you very much for your advice. If I do discover that the tree is root-bound is it just a matter of time before it dies, or should I just remove and replace it. Would severing some of the roots stimulate new growth after I do what you recommended, or again, should I just replace?  Thanks again.

Answer
It will not necessarily die soon but what happens a normal growth will add roots  and then add foliage and if the root system can not supply the foliage the food it needs the foliage will start to die back and you will have dead branches. The tree may survive years in this state but will not grow much.

The tree needs all the roots it has so any cutting of roots will damage the tree and in this case may kill it.

You could replant it. Deciduous plants may be moved in the spring as soon as the frost is out of the ground, up until the time when new foliage is partly unfurled. In the fall, they may be planted once the leaves start to turn color up until the ground freezes.

When you want to dig up a tree or shrub for transplanting, retain as much of the root system as possible. Deciduous trees  can be successfully moved only if a ball of soil is left around the roots. The exposed roots should be protected with moist burlap or newspaper or with polyethylene sheeting. Every effort should be made to reduce root exposure to wind and sun, keeping the ball as moist as possible. It's best to prepare the hole before digging up the tree you wish to move.

Size of the root ball and size of the hole:

For deciduous trees and shrubs the soil ball should be:

Width = 9-12 in. in diameter/every 1 in. of tree trunk diameter
Depth = 6 in./every 1 in. of tree trunk diameter

For example: A tree trunk 2 inches wide diameter would need a soil ball of 18-24 inches wide and 12 inches deep

The new hole needs to be twice the size of the root ball and as deep and fill with good top soil and mulch around the tree.