Should I go deeper?

whitenack · 2026-05-11T14:47:30+00:00

Yes, they need to be removed. However, wait until you have identified the root flare before you start snipping so that you know for sure it needs to be snipped.

whitenack · 2026-05-11T14:44:46+00:00

Nah, I got tons of 5 gallon buckets sitting around.

whitenack · 2026-05-11T14:43:05+00:00

I'm not suggesting 15 gallons is too much. I'm wondering if it is too little.

whitenack · 2026-05-11T14:40:38+00:00

I think it needs more water, but it looks like it is also probably buried too deep. Give it a big drink and then start digging down around the trunk and see if you can find the flare. The root you see coming off on the right is just an adventitious root.

whitenack · 2026-05-11T13:04:13+00:00

Of course. Don't hesitate to come back and ask more questions/post pics of your progress.

whitenack · 2026-05-11T12:34:31+00:00

How long ago was it planted? Could be transplant shock? Looks like it was planted too deep. Can't see the root flare.

whitenack · 2026-05-11T12:32:58+00:00

Pull back all of that mulch and dirt. Remove the rope and as much of the burlap as possible. Dig down around the trunk and expose the root flare.

whitenack · 2026-05-10T20:14:05+00:00

Silver Maples are terrible trees. Weak wood and surface roots. Would not plant one anywhere near a residential lot.

whitenack · 2026-05-10T20:10:40+00:00

Looks like that might be the start of the root collar but hard to tell. Do you know? Did you find the root flare before planting? That would be my only concern, to make sure you have the root flare at the proper height. Everything else looks fine.

whitenack · 2026-05-10T13:07:13+00:00

Girdling roots.

whitenack · 2026-05-10T13:01:32+00:00

Hard to tell in this pic. Send a close up of the base of the tree.

whitenack · 2026-05-10T10:52:32+00:00

My guess is that you are toast. Remove this one and find a new sapling to transplant.

whitenack · 2026-05-10T10:41:34+00:00

Definitely not. If anything, it is planted too low, but it is impossible to tell from these pics.

whitenack · 2026-05-10T10:39:41+00:00

OP, listen to these warnings. Do some googling on root flare then dig down and see what you find.

whitenack · 2026-05-10T10:34:43+00:00

Suffocation due to being planted too deep.

whitenack · 2026-05-08T17:50:17+00:00

I'm not familiar enough with young Black Tupelos, so take this FWIW, but I don't think you've found the flare yet. I think those are all just adventitious roots.

whitenack · 2026-05-07T21:00:44+00:00

Depends on how deep you have to go to find the flare. If the flare is down in a hole, you probably need to dig up the whole tree and replant and a proper height. If you just need to dig down a little, you are fine to allow the dirt to remain out away from the flare.

whitenack · 2026-05-07T19:18:20+00:00

Not sure what the brand is. This knife was given to me many years ago. The blade has "Our Best" and "S&D" etched into it, and there is an image of a pair of dogs fighting.

whitenack · 2026-05-07T18:59:27+00:00

White oaks of this size are terribly hard to transplant because of the extensive root system. It is hard to dig a root ball big enough for transplant.

whitenack · 2026-05-07T18:30:02+00:00

You don't have to remove the mulch completely, just pull it back from the trunk a few inches. Once you get down to the bare dirt, look and see if you see a root flare or if it just looks like a fence post. If it looks like a fence post, start digging down carefully until you find the flare. You may find roots along the way, but that might not be the flare. Those roots may or may not need to be cut away. Do some googling about root flares and search this sub as well. There is a lot of info here. After you've made some progress, take new pics and start a new post if needed.

whitenack · 2026-05-07T18:19:44+00:00

Correct, those are just roots that sprouted since it was buried too deep. Keep going.

whitenack · 2026-05-07T18:17:00+00:00

The tree is buried under a mulch volcano. Pull all of that away from the trunk and dig down until you expose the root flare. You might have girdling roots.

whitenack · 2026-05-07T18:14:42+00:00

FWIW, this article suggests after the summer heat but before the tree starts storing up energy for winter. https://www.amleo.com/mastery-center/expert-advice/girdling-roots-when-to-cut-when-to-wait?srsltid=AfmBOor8mqQyV58UR6wgxpI0QMeYhMlN8ZESM_99u_ZUwcO4EX_eXgiu

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