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Roots responding to planting depth

southern magnolia

Six years after planting southern magnolia 12 inches too deep from a #25 container. Note roots growing up to the soil surface. Also notice that there are few roots growing straight down compared to the tree planted correctly shown below.

southern magnolia 6 years after planting


Six years after planting southern magnolia 2 inches higher than surrounding landcape soil from a #25 container. Note roots grew straight out from the root ball. This should result in a tree that is more stable in the landscape than the tree pictured above that was planted too deeply