Part VIII - Living Walls - Rhododendrons & Azaleas: Sometimes the original soil that the ball and burlap plants are

» Cottage_Garden - Sometimes the original soil that the ball and burlap plants are

Sometimes the original soil that the ball and burlap plants are grown in is radically different from the soil where we plant it and the two do not mesh well.

Sometimes the machines used to dig the ball and burlap plants compress and compact the soil around the root ball so tight it causes a problem later. (This can also mound soil up around the root flare resulting in planting too deep.)

Sometimes ball and burlap plants come with a muddy casing of clay-based soil around their roots which is probably supposed to help retain moisture around the roots but can end up inhibiting take-up of moisture if it is allowed to dry out at any stage of the process. That clay "shell" can also be extremely difficult to rehydrate, even if the soil on both sides (meaning in the ball and surrounding) is not.

For all of these reasons I actually almost prefer bare-root plants! At least I am dealing with a known factor (my soil) and can take steps to accommodate the rooting and adjustment process accordingly.

Just as an aside, there are many types of synthetic burlap being used now and they do not degrade the way the natural fiber will. (Sometimes I think there are so many traps for the gardener and it is amazing anything ever grows!)

Barbara Martin
The Cottage Garden Editor

-- posted by Cottage_Garden