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Deep planting causes failure
An elm tree planted about 18 inches too deeply on campus fell over in a 40 mph wind storm (right photo). The canopy was green and full of foliage. Close inspection showed that the buried portion of the trunk was rotting (notice the missing bark in the lower photo).
The wood on the lower part of the photo was infested with termites indicating dead wood. There were no roots along the 18 inches of trunk buried below the soil.
