Have I made a costly mistake?!

Well, I'm a little late but I'll jump in just in case someone else has the same issue in the future. It's okay to leave the tree be. Simply avoid unnecessary root damage coz you could make things worse. Yes, teasing out the roots is crucial to a plant's growth but it's a 50/50 thing especially if you've already planted it. I mean, the roots are meant to provide the tree with nutrients by absorbing them from the ground. It's also the roots' job to take up water. Providing is only part of its role.

Because of the contradicting replies here, I'm not sure what you did, but digging it up only to tease out the roots might not be worth it. You've staked it for chrissakes, so the support part is already taken care of. Still, it's all up to you. Doing so might even make things better.

I would make the effort to dig carefully out and tease roots out and give it the best care possible, giving a plentiful watering to the hole first and then to your tree once replanted .. Whilst you can get away with things for flowers or small plants with shorter lives, when you want to plant a tree to last a long time it does need more care. If the roots are going round and round they a) wont keep the tree well anchored especially in high winds b) the roots will stay too near the surface and again will not cope with droughts etc instead of reaching down into the lower soil to get more water. As for what gardeners do when planting , I would say that people like Monty Don on TV, only have a very limited time on the show and for trees I would think once the cameras have gone will go back and do a better job.Personally , I would go for replanting on the grounds that you will have done a good job for the tree and wont be worrying in the future about its stability. Enjoy it whatever you do anyway .

The birds LOVE the berries and can hardly wait for them to ripen. It's a little bird magnet and a joy to watch them.

Heavier birds struggle to get the ones on the fine branches and fly up and flap about trying to pick them off.

Thanks Esmay. Bulbs are planned.

Up to you .

If you feel like lifting it and teasing out the roots - then okay .
I know that some of the root systems of my trees were not teased out when planted and it's not made any difference that I can see .

Choose a cool day and lift and tease very gently .

Don't forget to stake it .

I like to use seaweed and a slow release fertiliser .

Keep grass away and why not plant some spring bulbs around the base ?

It's a lovely and easy to grow tree .

I do hope that you enjoy it .

Thank you NotSpaghetti and others.

Hope yours is starting to settle in, Kate54

This is all sounding very promising. I think it’s the same one NotSpaghetti. There was plenty of rain during the night so will leave well alone today.

Some people make an alcoholic drink from the berries (think it may be parts of Canada). If you think you might want to do that I'd pich a variety with larger berries.

Ours is beautiful all year.
We dress it with tiny white lights at Christmas time. It's directly in front of our sitting room. All year interest in my opinion.
The edible berries are tiny but flavoursome.

I also love my Alemanchier. Mine is Amelanchier lamarckii.

This may be of interest:
www.thespruce.com/nine-species-serviceberry-trees-and-shrubs-3269674

I wouldn’t disturb it, I have planted plenty of trees, never teased out roots and never had any problems from not doing so.

We have just had over 200 plants including trees planted by a landscaper gardener and none of the roots were teased out. All are growing beautifully.
I think potentially you could do more damage digging up than leaving it.

Katie59

Whatever you the most important thing is water, lots of it until we get proper rain.

I disagree. One watering is enough. The roots need to grow downwards in search of water. Too many overwater

Whatever you the most important thing is water, lots of it until we get proper rain.

That was kind of you, many thanks.

I didn't know what the tree looked like, so looked it up on Gardener's world. There was a video of Monty Don planting one, he took it straight out the pot and planted it, he didn't tease any roots out.
Hope that helps

It wasn’t pot bound Casdon and all the roots were looking healthily small if you know what I mean! Yes espee it has been very securely staked.

Kate54

Alemanchier (spelling?) as recommended by GN ers here. Also seen as shrub in borders but I wanted to see something out of kitchen window.

I think the June Berry is a type of Alemanchier, Kate54.

Will investigate, yes I remember the thread.

A tree is a major addition in terms of longevity. I would dig it up tomorrow and spread the roots.
Have you staked it?

Callistemon21

What kind of tree did you plant, Kate54?

We need to plant one in the midde of our front lawn but nothing too large. I was thinking of a June Berry, hoping the fruit is not poisonous to dogs.

We have a June Berry tree in our back garden. It’s been there for years. I wouldn’t worry about your dogs being poisoned as ours have never had a chance to eat the fruit as the birds have stripped it before it had a chance to fall.

It depends if it was pot bound or not. If the roots were still growing out into the soil of the pot, it will be fine. If it was a tight rootball with the roots already intertwined with each other and winding round the pot, I’d replant it, that would give it the best start.

My variety is Snowy Mespilus. Will get the spade out tomorrow!

Amelanchier, Kate. I planted one this spring when it became smothered in beautiful white single flowers, followed by red berries that the blackbirds fought over. Now its leaves are turning slowly orange. It’s lovely and gives so much most of the year. My variety is ´canadensis’ and shouldn’t get over 5-6 m.

you should redo it, won`t take that long. Being a tree, the roots will be doing a lot of work in holding it in the ground when the gales come, which they will. A tight root ball rocking in the wind is not good. The stake can stay where it is. An hours work at most

Alemanchier (spelling?) as recommended by GN ers here. Also seen as shrub in borders but I wanted to see something out of kitchen window.

I'm sure yours will be fine if you keep it watered