Wire Basket Sizing – Shade Trees

Tree Wire Basket Sizing

The information below will guide you in purchasing a properly sized wire basket or container for your shade trees.

Type 1 shade trees

Climatic conditions in different regions of the country produce trees of different caliper-heights. The table below shows average height ranges and the typical maximum heights.

Examples of type 1 shade trees:

Acacia stenophylla, Acer rubrum, A. saccharinum, Betula, Cinnamomum camphora, Eucalyptus microtheca, Fraxinus, Ginkgo, Gleditsia, Liriodendron, Platanus, Populus, Quercus macrocarpa, Q. palustris, Q. phellos, Q. virginiana (southeastern climates), Salix. Tilia Americana, and Zelkova serrata.

Caliper / height specification Average height range Typical maximum height Minimum root ball diameter Minimum root ball depth Acceptable container classes Minimum acceptable inground fabric bag size (diameter)
1/2 in. / 4 ft. 4 to 5 ft. 6 ft. 12 in. 7 7⁄8 in. #2,#3,#5 5 in.
5⁄8 in. / 5 ft. 5 to 6 ft. 8 ft. 13 in. 8 3⁄8 in. #3,#5,#7 8 in.
3/4 in. / 6 ft. 6 to 8 ft. 10 ft. 14 in. 9 in. #5,#7,#10 8 in.
1 in. / 7 ft. 8 to 10 ft. 11 ft. 16 in. 10 3⁄8 in. #7,#10,#15 10 in.
1 ¼ in. 8 to 10 ft. 12 ft. 18 in. 11 3/4 in. #10,#15,#20 10 in.
1 1/2 in. 10 to 12 ft. 14 ft. 20 in. 12 in. #15,#20,#25 12 in.
1 3/4 in. 10 to 12 ft. 14 ft. 22 in. 13 1⁄8 in. #15,#20,#25,#45 14 in.
2 in. 12 to 14 ft. 16 ft. 24 in. 14 3⁄8 in. #20,#25,#45 16 in.
2 1/2 in. 12 to 14 ft. 16 ft. 28 in. 17 in. #25,#45,#65 18 in.
3 in. 14 to 16 ft. 18 ft. 32 in. 19 in. #45,#65,#95/100 20 in.
3 1/2 in. 14 to 16 ft. 18 ft. 38 in. 23 in. #65,#95/100 22 in.
4 in. 16 to 18 ft. 22 ft. 42 in. 25 in. #95/100 24 in.
4 1/2 in. 16 to 18 ft. 22 ft. 48 in. 29 in. 30 in.
5 in. 18 ft. and up 26 ft. 54 in. 32 in.
5 1/2 in. 57 in. 34 in.
6 in. 60 in. 36 in.
7 in. 70 in. 42 in.
8 in. 80 in. 48 in.

Shade Tree Wire Baskets

Type 2 shade trees

Trees of slower growth than type 1 that will not usually attain the height measurement in relation to caliper as in type 1. The height, however, should not be less than two-thirds the
height relationship given for type 1. The table below shows average height ranges and the typical maximum heights.

Examples of type 2 shade trees:

Aesculus pavia, Brachychiton acerifolius, Celtis reticulata, Cladrastis lutea (kentukea), Cocculus laurifolius, Conocarpus erectus var. sericeus, Fagus sylvatica, Koelreuteria paniculata, Liquidamber styraciflua, Magnolia grandiflora, Nyssa sylvatica, Quercus alba, Q. fusiformis, Sorbus sucuparia, Syringa reticulata, Tabebuia cariaba, Tilia cordata, and T. euchlora.

Caliper / height specification Minimum height (2⁄3 Type 1 height) Typical maximum height Minimum root ball diameter Minimum root ball depth Acceptable container classes Minimum acceptable inground fabric bag size (diameter)
1/2 in. / 4 ft. 3 ft. 6 ft. 12 in. 7 7⁄8 in. #2,#3,#5 5 in.
3/4 in. / 6 ft. 4 ft. 7 ft. 14 in. 9 in. #5,#7,#10 8 in.
1 in. / 7 ft. 5 ft. 8 ft. 16 in. 10 3⁄8 in. #7,#10,#15 10 in.
1 1/4 in. 6 ft. 9 ft. 18 in. 11 3/4 in. #10,#15,#20 10 in.
1 1/2 in. 7 ft. 10 ft. 20 in. 12 in. #15,#20,#25 12 in.
1 3/4 in. 8 ft. 11 ft. 22 in. 13 1⁄8 in. #15,#20,#25,#45 14 in.
2 in. 8 ft. 12 ft. 24 in. 14 3⁄8 in. #20,#25,#45 16 in.
2 1/2 in. 8 ft. 14 ft. 28 in. 17 in. #25,#45,#65 18 in.
3 in. 9 ft. 15 ft. 32 in. 19 in. #45,#65,#95/100 20 in.
3 1/2 in. 9 ft. 16 ft. 38 in. 23 in. #65,#95/100 22 in.
4 in. 11 ft. 18 ft. 42 in. 25 in. #95/100 24 in.
4 1/2 in. 12 ft. 20 ft. 48 in. 29 in. 30 in.
5 in. 13 ft. 22 ft. 54 in. 32 in.
5 1/2 in. 57 in. 34 in.
6 in. 60 in. 36 in.
7 in. 70 in. 42 in.
8 in. 80 in. 48 in.

 

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