There are two distinctly different types of trees used at Acadiana Landscape Materials: Container Trees and Balled & Bur lapped (B&B) Trees.
Container Trees
Most commonly under 2” in calipers. They are grown in a plastic pot with a soil mix, prepared by the plant grower. This soil is very porous and water will pass through it quickly. Since a newly installed tree has no roots in the native soil around it, the roots can dry out quickly. Frequent watering of container trees is mandatory for quick establishment. If you have an Acadiana Landscape Materials sprinkler system in your yard, container trees will be watered adequately by your sprinkler timer program. If you have very large container trees, 15 gallons size or above, it will be necessary to hand water the root ball of the plant with a hose, 2 times per day during the first 2 - 3 weeks after planting. This can be every day for the first 3 days as long as the watering is done 4 hours apart.
Stakes: Trees over 4’ tall require staking upon planting. Keep a check on the wires that connect the tree to the stake. They should remain around the trunk of the tree to allow stability. They should remain in place for one full growing season and then be removed.
Mulch: Container trees require mulch to be placed on the root ball. A 3”-4” layer of pine straw should be around the base of the tree. It should be a minimum of 18” in diameter or twice the size of the root ball. This circle of mulch will help preserve moisture, deter weed growth, and help to prevent damage to the tree’s base from lawn care equipment. Replenish mulch 1-2 times per year.
Fertilization: Newly planted trees will benefit from being fertilized with tree spikes. Use 1 spike per inch of trunk caliper and drive the spikes into the ground, spacing them equally around the drip-line of the tree. 18-6-8 analysis spikes should be used for deciduous trees, while 16-4-4 analysis spikes should be used for evergreen trees. Fertilizing with tree spikes should be done once per year.
On established trees, fertilization should be accomplished two times per year with a complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10. 1 closed handful per 1 inch of trunk caliper should be spread at the edge of the root ball. Do not place a handful or pile of fertilizer in one spot on top of the root ball. Avoid applying fertilizer touching the foliage of all container plants, especially the entire trunks of the main tree itself. It will burn the foliage and may injure the tree.
Pest Control: Only needed if a pest is found. Inspect plants for obvious pests such as ant hills in the root zone. Ants love the soft soil in the root zone of newly planted trees. Large ant hills can kill a young tree. Use an insecticide such as Amdro to control ant hills. Follow label directions when applying any pesticide. Call Acadiana Landscape Materials if you are not sure about a pest problem on your trees.
B & B Trees
These trees are usually 2” caliper or larger when installed. They may be 5-20 feet in height. They are grown in a field, just like garden and agricultural crops. The significant effect of a field-grown tree is the tree will be much larger, thicker, and fuller than container plants. They will be harvested with native soils around the root zone and require special equipment and handling procedures. The harvest process cuts away some of the roots. It is common to see some type of transplant shock, such as the dropping of some of the smaller limbs or fewer leaves in the branches of the tree in the first season after planting. It is difficult to water a B&B tree adequately by a lawn sprinkler system during establishment.
The root ball may be 2-3 feet deep in the ground. To make the watering chore more successful, install a ring of soil around the outside of the tree well. We call this a “bird bath.” The bird bath should be filled with your garden hose 2 times daily for the first 2-3 weeks after installation. After that, your lawn sprinkler should be set up to water adequately.
Stakes: Most B&B trees are staked at the time of installation. However, Crepe Myrtles and some evergreen Hollies may not require staking. Monitor the stakes and wires. The wire loosens the wire if too tight appears. Leave the stakes and wire in place for 1 full year after planting.
Fertilization: Should not be necessary during the first year after installation. The second year, fertilizing or granular feeding with 10-10-10 will be necessary.
Mulch: B&B trees require a mulch layer of 3”-4” of pine straw around the root ball and extending beyond the drip-line (end of the tree). Replenish mulch one to two times per year.
Pest Control: Should only be necessary if a pest is found. Monitor to observe significant damage such as transplant shock or insect issues such as ants, root ants, or brown ant mounds. Ants love the soft soil around newly planted trees. Use an insecticide as needed.
Shrubs
The shrubs installed by Acadiana Landscape Materials are proven hardy for our area. Shrubs are grown in containers or plastic pots with a special soil mix prepared by the grower. This soil is very porous and water will pass through it quickly. Since a newly installed shrub has no roots in the native soil around it, the roots can dry out quickly. Frequent watering of container shrubs is mandatory for quick establishment. If you have a Acadiana Landscape Materials sprinkler system in your yard, container shrubs will be adequately watered by your establishment's watering program.
Caution: Poorly drained soils such as red clay can hold water for days at a time without drying out. Over-watering can suffocate roots and kill plants. Be careful not to over-water container shrubs. They require less water than your lawn, and watering these two types of plants together should be avoided.
Fertilization: Shrubs are to be fertilized twice a year, March & August, with a complete fertilizer such as 10-10-10. Mulch: A 3” to 4” layer of pine straw should be kept in the root zone of shrubs. This mulch helps to retain moisture during periods of drought. It prevents erosion, deters weed growth, and looks nice. Pine straw should be replenished 1 to 2 times per year. A provides pine straw installation as one of our lawn maintenance services.
Pest Control: Necessary on container shrubs only if a pest problem is found to cause significant damage to the plant. Monitor shrubs for obvious pests such as ant hills in the root zone of newly planted trees. Large ant hills can kill a young shrub. Use an insecticide such as Amdro to control ant hills. Follow label directions when applying any pesticide. Call Acadiana Landscape Materials if you are unsure about a pest problem.