Maple topped by grower

cstevens · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 14 Location: MANSFIELD,TX

What to do?

When we bought our house I was able to specify the trees to be planted. I picked a Lacebark Elm, a Maple, and a Redbud. The Maple has never really looked right to me and I called in an arborist earlier this week. He notes n his report that the Maple has been topped, probably due to dieback in the container. The tree is under warranty but the warranty rep for the builder says he has never heard of them replacing a live tree.

I am going to call the place that planted the tree and was wondering if there was any advice on tactics for getting a replacement tree. Has anyone else experienced this with a successful outcome?

Carl

sandih · Joined: 04 Apr 2003 Posts: 1012 Location: Dallas,TEXAS

I would flat out tell them that the condition of the tree was unacceptable and your fully expect a replacement. What does the warranty say?

Even if it specifies "only if it dies" I would make a real stink about it. The tree will never develop and grow correctly if it has been topped.

cstevens · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 14 Location: MANSFIELD,TX

Already taken care of. They are going to be sending pictures of replacements this week and we should have a new one planted soon. I hope the freeze this weekend does not spell an end to the planting season.

Tricky Grama · Posted: Wed Nov 29, 2006 8:36 am Post subject:

Actually, I think it's really better to plant sometime after the 1st freeze. Just doesn't seem to be as easy.

Patty

Preservation Tree Svc · Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 15 Location: Dallas,TX

We plant trees from now until the end of winter without any problem. They will need supplemental watering for the first two years after planting. Tree Gators are a great help with this, if you don't have an irrigation system in place.

cstevens · Joined: 22 Oct 2006 Posts: 14 Location: MANSFIELD,TX

Thank you for the info. I have seen the gators and think they are a great idea for some circunstances. We do have a sprinkler system but it is not tuned yet for anything. I will probably need to rebuild it as I start my smartscaping. Right now everything gets about the same water.

Preservation Tree Svc · Joined: 31 Dec 1969 Posts: 15 Location: Dallas,TX

Tree gators are just more convenient than hand watering with a hose. If you have a sprinkler system, but it doesn't hit the newly planted tree sufficiently, a hand watering with a hose will suffice.

The Ent · Joined: 19 Mar 2003 Posts: 784 Location: ,

Send us pics of your replacement tree when you're done!

Dirt Doctor · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Posts: 542 Location: Dallas,Tx

Just for clarification, I wanted to let everyone know that I do NOT recommend tree gators or any other artificial watering device that is applied touching the trunk. Those green bags look bad, keep the flares wet and concentrate the water too close to the trunk. If a tree has been planted properly, little additional irrigation is needed. When needed it should be applied by hose to the ground at the edge of the hole, not at the trunk. I think these devices are in the same catagory at tree wrap, staking and hacking back the tops of trees at planting.

Tricky Grama · Posted: Tue Jan 16, 2007 9:35 am Post subject:

DD, did you mean DO NOT recommend?

Patty

Dirt Doctor · Joined: 08 Mar 2003 Posts: 542 Location: Dallas,Tx

Thanks Patty. My dyslexia at work again. I made the edit.