What happens if a tree is planted too deeply?
Trees planted too deeply die prematurely. One reason is that roots need oxygen. A second reason is that roots can actually choke the tree. Many people believe that any circling root is bad. This does not appear to be true. The worst circling roots are those that circle at or above the root collar or root flare of the tree. Roots that circle below the root flare are usually not problematic. We recommend planting 2-inches above grade, or higher than 2-inches if planting on a wet site.
