Gravel Beds: A Helping Hand for Transplanted Trees
What is a Gravel Bed?
Imagine a “bed” made entirely of gravel. That’s exactly what a gravel bed is. Trees that are going to be moved to a new location are planted in this gravel bed and kept there for up to six months. They get water and sometimes even special nutrients, but no soil.
Why Gravel Beds?
It might seem strange to grow trees in gravel, but there’s a good reason for it. The lack of soil puts a little bit of stress on the trees. This stress signals to the trees that they need to focus on growing more small roots, called feeder roots, to find nutrients.
These feeder roots form a new, dense network of roots that travel with the trees when they’re transplanted. This makes it much easier for the trees to establish themselves in their new home and get the nutrients they need to thrive.
Benefits of Gravel Beds
Gravel beds offer several advantages, especially for bare-root trees. These trees are sold without any soil around their roots, making them cheaper and easier to handle than other types of trees. However, bare-root trees have a lower survival rate after transplanting and a shorter planting season.
Gravel beds solve these problems. By giving bare-root trees a few months in a gravel bed, they develop a strong network of feeder roots that increases their chances of survival and makes them easier to establish after transplanting.
Gravel Bed Information
The gravel bed system has been used for decades by nurseries, cities, and universities. Many communities even have their own gravel beds where residents can bring their trees to be replanted.
Gravel beds are especially beneficial for bare-root trees, which are typically less expensive and easier to handle than other types of trees. By putting bare-root trees in gravel beds, communities can plant more trees and create greener, healthier neighborhoods.
How to Make a Gravel Bed
Creating a gravel bed is a relatively simple process:
- Choose a site: Pick a spot with good drainage and easy access to water. The size of the site will depend on how many trees you want to plant.
- Build borders: Create borders around the site to hold the gravel in place. These borders can be permanent or temporary.
- Add gravel: Pile up at least 15 inches of gravel, using a mixture of small river rock and pea gravel.
- Plant the trees: Simply plant the trees in the gravel.
- Water and fertilize: Use timer-controlled drip irrigation or soaker hoses to water the trees regularly. Some community gravel beds also apply slow-release fertilizer to the surface of the gravel.
Long-Term Benefits
Gravel beds provide long-term benefits for transplanted trees. Trees that have been grown in gravel beds have a higher survival rate and establish themselves more quickly in their new location. This leads to healthier, more vibrant trees that contribute to the beauty and well-being of our communities.
