Planting trees that are burlapped and then containerized

I just bought a beautiful, healthy looking 5-foot Magnolia 'Jane' in a very large container.

Like a good little tree planter, I dug a hole just as deep and (almost) twice as wide as the container.

When I got the tree out of the container, half of the bark-based potting mix fell apart. I figured it had been recently repotted, but upon close inspection realized it was actually a pretty small root ball that had been burlapped, then placed in a large container full of potting mix.

I had to backfill the hole because now it was way too deep. The burlap had been wrapped around the trunk of the tree, and the potting mix filled to the top to cover up the burlap. There was at least 3 inches of the bark mix around the trunk. Fortunately there was no sign of rot around the trunk. It's now planted quite high to account for settling of the backfilled soil.

It was only when I was cutting off the top half of the burlap that I noticed the actual soil inside the roots. It's pure grey clay. I guess the tree was grown in a clay field before being dug up and burlapped.

Now I know to take the rootball out of the tree before even digging a hole.

Is there anything else I should have done or do from now on to make sure this tree survives?

You want to make sure the burlap is loosened around the trunk and there are no ties/string around the rootball. Nurseries usually do this to older stock so it's more protected during the winter. Some do it to sell the item for more money. I remember the nursery I worked at started potting up B&B trees towards July. Your specimen must not have rooted into the pot. I'd look at it like you just got a bunch of free soil amendment :) As far as the clay soil of the ball, you're probably planting it in clay soil anyway so I'm sure it will be fine.

ssgardener, I can't give advice, but I can tell you a Santa Rosa Plum I bought was similar. Wrapped, in sticky clay, with just about five chopped off root stubs. It grew amazingly and never looked back.

Seq, I never knew that was a common practice.

I'm so glad to hear your plum did well, Sally!

I'm concerned at how tiny the burlapped rootball was in comparison to the large (and beautifully flowering) magnolia.

Do magnolias generally transplant ok?

Seq, the trunk is now free of soil and burlap. I did use the extra bark mix as a soil amendment. :) Now I'm concerned that my native clay is less clay-y than the rootball!

My neighbor got the largest B&B Mag he could find a few years back. It took me and him to wrestle it into the whole he dug. I think it was one of the 'girl' varieties. Anyway, he used NO soil amendment, NO fertilizer, and he threw the clumps of sod on top of the backfill soil. He may have watered it but, knowing him, probably not much after the initial planting. It's still there and currently blooming. If his lived, yours certainly will. Trees are more resilient than we give them credit for. Now, can I say his tree had the best start it could have? Certainly not. I think that's what we as gardeners strive for: to give our plantings the best start and care they can have. So I understand your concern SSG but I think you'll be fine.

That's great to hear the tree's doing well.

I've unfortunately killed enough trees to be cautious...

Yeah we've all made our mistakes that's for sure. The worst thing I did to a tree was plant a 15 gallon pot without cutting the roots that circled around the bottom. I was planting it by myself and it was a sheer miracle that it got in the hole in one piece. But it was definitely naivete that I didn't cut the roots.