New York City Gardener Practice Exam

The situation centers on reducing transplant shock and supporting the newly transplanted root system. When a recently moved, small deciduous tree wilts, the priority is to help the roots take up water and stay cool, not to disturb the root ball further or drown the roots. Watering immediately helps relieve drought stress and gets moisture to the recently unsettled roots. Mulching around the base conserves soil moisture, buffers temperature swings, and reduces evaporation, giving the tree a better chance to recover. Providing temporary shade lowers water loss through transpiration and shields the tender leaves from heat stress as the roots re-establish. Removing the tree from the pot and submerging the roots is least desirable because it further disturbs the delicate root system, exposes roots to air and temperature fluctuations, and can create a waterlogged environment that deprives roots of oxygen and promotes rot. This action compounds transplant shock instead of alleviating it.