Bare Root Tree planting depth

White Oak

5 year old buck +
I apologize if this has been asked before. I planted 5 bare root trees from NWC last year , and they all seem to be doing great. I did some research before planting last year on youtube , since I'm new to bare root trees . The info I found said not to plant too deep , and to keep the highest root just below the surface of the ground. While checking out NWC's new website today I noticed in the "planting tips" it says "Slowly backfill in layers until the rootstock’s bud union is only an inch or so above the ground.". If that's the case , it appears this tree of mine should of been planted at least another 2 inches deeper, maybe more . Do you guys agree that the tree needs to be planted deeper , or the way I did it was fine. Thanks for any advice, I have some more bare roots coming soon and want to plant them correctly . Sorry the pictures are not the best .
 

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I assume they suggest it so the MM111 rootstock will root below ground instead of forming those burr knots above ground. It depends on where exactly they grafted as to how easily it can be planted just below the union. Some of my own grafts can be pretty high so I just live with the burr knots.
 
I hold mine a little deep and then pull up a hair when packing soil so this pulls the roots down.But this only works on the few that get hand planted
 
I would not over think it.....

Keep the roots covered and the bud union above the ground

Looks fine based on what i see in the photo

bill
Thanks !
 
I apologize if this has been asked before. I planted 5 bare root trees from NWC last year , and they all seem to be doing great. I did some research before planting last year on youtube , since I'm new to bare root trees . The info I found said not to plant too deep , and to keep the highest root just below the surface of the ground. While checking out NWC's new website today I noticed in the "planting tips" it says "Slowly backfill in layers until the rootstock’s bud union is only an inch or so above the ground.". If that's the case , it appears this tree of mine should of been planted at least another 2 inches deeper, maybe more . Do you guys agree that the tree needs to be planted deeper , or the way I did it was fine. Thanks for any advice, I have some more bare roots coming soon and want to plant them correctly . Sorry the pictures are not the best .
Like the others said, I'd leave the tree as it is. You might be able to make a small mound to bury more of the trunk.

Steve Edholm over at Skillcult channel has a video on removing bur knots from apple trees. His video was the first time I saw bur knots and I planned to file the info away in case I ever see this on one of my trees, but I haven't yet. So I'm not speaking from experience. If I remember correctly, Steve makes it clear that he's describing his preference and opinion. Here's a link to the video, hope it helps -
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Most bare root supplers recommended planting so that the graft union is 1" above the soil.
 
I had some severe burr knots on the rootstock portion of a few trees, and I just mounded up dirt so the burr knots were all buried. Seems to have worked great.
 
Most bare root supplers recommended planting so that the graft union is 1" above the soil.
I talked to the grower and he said "those are fine and they are stable...the rootstock on those were budded a few inches higher than on average so the roots/rootstock were plenty deep enough" I didn't mention the bur knots
 
I assume they suggest it so the MM111 rootstock will root below ground instead of forming those burr knots above ground. It depends on where exactly they grafted as to how easily it can be planted just below the union. Some of my own grafts can be pretty high so I just live with the burr knots.
Thanks Chickenlittle , these are the first trees I've ever had with burr Knots. I reckon I'll leave them as is , if I try removing them I'll probably do more harm than good....or I could possibly cover them with dirt as a few have recommended . Have any of your tree trunks been weakened and damaged by just leaving the burr knots ?
 
I bury the graft on all my fruit trees but I can’t stand all these runts of fruit trees sold anymore so I bury all grafts a couple inches deep allowing the scion to own root giving me full size trees. I’ll have to wait a bit longer for fruit but one thing I have is patients for things like this. There is another reason to bury the graft and thats to prevent latent graft failure particularly for far northern growers.
 
I bury the graft on all my fruit trees but I can’t stand all these runts of fruit trees sold anymore so I bury all grafts a couple inches deep allowing the scion to own root giving me full size trees. I’ll have to wait a bit longer for fruit but one thing I have is patients for things like this. There is another reason to bury the graft and thats to prevent latent graft failure particularly for far northern growers.
Thanks, I am a novice tree planter so advice like this is great.
 
I've been planting all of my apple trees with the graft union 2-3 inches above ground level for 25+ years. None of them have ever complained...so that is the way I will continue to plant them.

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Great job , nice and straight row !
 
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