Last year I planted a very fast growing shrub that I purchased balled and burlaped. The tree has not grown much or has not grown at all. Why is this?
The term balled and burlaped basically refers to the way a plant has been packaged. The plant’s root ball has been wrapped with burlap and tied with twine. Now the advantage to a field-grown tree like is that you can usually get a much more robust and larger specimen. The disadvantage is that you have to cut the roots to move it. It is the cutting of the roots that causes this slow development. There’s an old adage for plants that have had their roots cut. In the first year they’ll sleep, in the second year they’ll creep, and in the third year they’ll finally leap. So be patient and you’ll should see some results.