Glossary: Tree Planting 101

Planting stock that has been dug from the field and wrapped in burlap (held in place by twine or a wire basket) in order to keep the soil ball intact during transport and before installation. Abbreviation B&B.

Planting stock that has the soil removed from the root system. The root system must be kept moist at all times to ensure that the roots don't dry out and die.

Wire confinement often used to hold balled and burlapped soil balls together.

Structure of a tree; relating to what the branch attachments look like (wide angle vs. narrow, included bark, etc.).

The diameter of the trunk measured 6 inches above ground for stock up to 4 inches in caliper size. If larger than 4 inches caliper measure at 12 inches above the ground.

Wounds caused by biotic or abiotic conditions that penetrate the bark, causing it to spilt open. The vascular tissue and the bark are often destroyed or rendered useless by cankers. Cankers are often circular or oval in shape, and can increase in size if attacked by the pathogen repetitively or if the tree cannot seal them over and environmental conditions around them do not improve. Wounds provide entryways for decay causing pathogens to enter and weaken the structure of the tree.

Yellowing of the leaves due to nutrient deficiency- usually nitrogen or iron (not occurring at fall leaf drop).

Soil that has increased in bulk density due to heavy foot or motor traffic. Many roots cannot penetrate into compacted soil because it is so dense, and compacted soils often become waterlogged or starved for oxygen which further impact the tree's growth.

Any tree that grows in a container. There are two basic types: trees that have spent their entire life in a container (pot)- container grown; and young field grown stock that has been dug and placed into a container (pot) to finish growing- containerized.

The portion of the tree that has foliage attached to it. This does not include water sprouts or root suckers.

The breakdown of woody tissues by pathogens. This structurally weakens the tree making it more susceptible to failure. 

Death of living tissues, usually leaves and twigs first, that progress from the outside or top of the tree towards the interior or base.

Roots with erratic growth that form tangentially or circularly around the base of the tree's trunk.

The first tier of roots branching off from the stem. The are usually the oldest roots on the tree. In young plant the first order roots should be the about the width of a pencil. 

A vertical split in the bark and wood of a tree due to rapid temperature changes during winter days. Cracks can open and close depending on the air temperature. There is a major difference between a frost crack and a frost canker. A crack penetrates into the structural wood, not just the other living tissues. 

Parts of two plants (usually a root system and a branch) that are joined together to form one plant. This is a common practice for cultivars and plants that cannot reproduce on their own.