Appreciation post: That one neighbor who swore by aerating bare root trees before planting

I thought my neighbor Jerry was nuts when he spent 4 hours poking holes around a sapling he got from the nursery. Then my backyard maple grew 3 feet taller in its first summer while his just took off, and I saw the roots had spread way wider than mine ever did. Anyone else ever dismissed oldschool gardening advice and later realized it had real science behind it?

2 comments

2 Comments

thomas_brown8d ago

It's funny how we assume newer is better when it comes to gardening and pretty much everything else. My dad used to swear by soaking his tomato plants in a bucket of water for 24 hours before putting them in the ground, and I always rolled my eyes. Then I read that it helps the roots get fully hydrated and reduces transplant shock. It reminds me of how we throw out all this old knowledge because it sounds like folklore, but it usually has a simple, practical reason behind it. The neighbor probably learned that trick from his grandpa who understood soil compaction and root airflow without any fancy terms. We just need to stop and ask why someone does something before laughing at it.

rayc896d ago

Hold on though @thomas_brown, soaking them for 24 hours can actually drown the roots if you don't change the water or let them breathe. An hour or two is usually plenty to rehydrate them without risking rot.