Tree Installation and Establishment

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Tree Installation and Establishment
2
Correctly Planted Trees
3
Creating an Urban Forest

• Why do urban trees die?
• Improper plant selection
• Improper planting
• Improper maintenance and care

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Creating an Urban Forest

• How can we help the trees mature and survive to a
  ripe old age?
• Select the right plant for the right place
• Select a healthy tree
• Plant the tree properly
• Dont forget the ongoing maintenance!

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Tree Selection

• Choosing the right tree
• Fits site characteristics
• Planting space (height, spread)
• USDA hardiness zone
• Soil type and conditions (texture, pH,
  compaction, drainage, etc.)
• Climate and sun exposure
• Healthy and vigorous
• Free of wounds and pests

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Matching the Tree to the Site
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Choosing a Quality Tree
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Choosing a Quality Tree
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Avoid Trees with Injuries and Structural Defects
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Avoid Trees with Pest Problems
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The Root of the Problem

• What do we know about the way tree roots grow?

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Roots of an Established Tree
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Tree Problems from Improper Planting

• Trees are planted too deep
• Trees are planted without the necessary rooting
  space
• Trees are planted without removing transplanting
  materials (pots, burlap, baskets, twine, etc.)
• Trees are planted with girding, crossing, and
  circling roots

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Planting Too Deep

• Deep planting can impact the tree in several ways
• Tree roots are buried below available water and
  oxygen
• Tree trunks are surrounded by moist soil
  preventing proper gas exchange and trunk growth
  (girth)
• Trees decline and become susceptible to root rots
  and other pest problems

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Planting Too Deep

• Deep planting may begin in the nursery

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Trees Lacking Rooting Space
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Trees Planted Without Removing Transplanting
Materials
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Knotted Roots

• Tree roots often form to the shape of the pot,
  burlap, planting bag, or whatever is used to hold
  the young plant
• The longer the plant remains with distorted
  roots, the bigger the problem

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Girdling Roots

• Girdling roots that are not cut or removed at
  planting often kill the tree years later

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Girdling Roots
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Improper Planting Causes Early Demise

• The above photos are of a 12 year old shore pine
  root system. The tree declined slowly after
  reaching a height of 5 feet. Planting problems
  are often not recognized until the plant dies.

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The Need For Proper Planting

• Proper planting is THE most important event in a
  trees life
• You only have one opportunity to do the job
  correctly
• Incorrect planting will reduce the trees life,
  value, and may cause the tree to fail and cause
  damage to people or property

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High quality trees planted right Poor quality
trees/ planted wrong

Remove Replace
Costs (Dollars)
Cumulative difference in costs

0 100 Years
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High quality trees planted right Poor quality
trees/ planted wrong

Cumulative difference in value
Value (Dollars)
Remove Replace

0 100 Years
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Hazards from Tree Failure are Often Caused by
Improper Planting
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CLT Tree Planting Guidelines

• Old tree planting guidelines do not create a good
  rooting environment
• Fertilizing, wrapping and staking specifications
  have changed over the years
• These old guidelines are still being used today

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Proper Planting

• Loosen the soil out several yards in all
  directions of the hole if possible
• Dig a wide, shallow planting hole with sloping
  sides
• Properly prepare tree (based on form of planting
  stock) and carefully place the tree in planting
  hole
• Only prune out broken, diseased, and damaged
  branches

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Proper Planting

• Back-fill the hole with the original soil from
  the site, amendments are not recommended
• Add water as you add soil to avoid air pockets
  around the roots
• Create a watering basin around the tree
• Mulch the soil with two to three inches of
  organic mulch
• Do not wrap the tree
• Stake the tree only if necessary
• Do not fertilize the tree at planting

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Better Planting
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Proper Planting
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Old vs New Planting Guidelines
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Planting Hole Depth

• The planting hole should be shallow, dug only to
  the depth of the roots, measure to be certain
• The soil at the bottom of the hole should be
  compacted so the tree wont sink
• The root flare will be above the soil level on a
  properly planted tree

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Planting hole size for a 2 diameter tree _at_ 3x
the ball diameter
5 x 5.5
4 x 7
3 x 9
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Planting Trees

• Check root flare to make sure you have planted at
  the correct depth

• Check to make sure the tree is straight before
  filling in the planting hole

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Tree Planting

• Forms of planting stock available
• Bare root
• Containerized
• Balled and Burlapped (BB)

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Bare Root Trees

• Advantages
• Trees are less expensive than other forms
• You can see the entire root system, and any
  problems that may exist
• Proper planting depth is easy to determine
• Plants are lightweight and easy to plant
• You always plant them in the native soil, so
  there is no soil interface

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Bare Root Trees

• Disadvantages
• Not all species are available
• Stock is limited to smaller trees
• They are generally only available, and should be
  planted, when trees are dormant
• Trees may need to be staked

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Bare Root Trees

• Choosing healthy planting stock
• Look for a healthy root system with roots spread
  radially around the trunk
• Trees with a j-root or few roots should be avoided

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Bare Root Trees

• Planting requirements
• Keep tree roots moist prior to planting
• Cut torn and damaged roots
• Spread roots out in all directions
• If roots spread in a downward direction then
  plant on a small mound

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Container Plants

• Advantages
• A wide variety of species and sizes are available
• Roots sustain less damage, as they are protected
  by the container
• Can be planted any time of the year

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Container Plants

• Disadvantages
• Plants often develop girding roots
• Highest mortality rate of all forms of planting
  stock
• Soil-less media is generally used
• It will require more frequent watering during the
  first year
• It is highly organic and will break down over
  time

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Container Plants

• Choosing healthy planting stock
• Inspect the root system
• Avoid plants with discolored or dead roots
• Avoid plants with heavy circling woody roots

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Container Plants

• Planting requirements
• Slide the tree out of the container
• Spread the roots and remove any circling or
  girdling roots
• Measure the depth of the root system after the
  roots are spread
• Dig the hole to the proper depth and plant
  properly

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Balled and Burlapped

• Advantages
• Larger sized planting stock available
• Most tree species are available
• Soil and burlap protect roots during transport
• Can be planted any time of year
• Good survivability

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Balled and Burlapped

• Disadvantages
• Most expensive
• Heavy
• Soil in root ball is often different from native
  soil, creating an interface
• The roof flare is often buried in the soil ball
• Up to 95 of the absorbing roots are lost when
  the tree is dug from the nursery

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Balled and Burlapped

• Choosing healthy planting stock
• Check the root ball to make sure ball is intact,
  if the ball cracks, roots are often injured
• Check the depth of the root flare in the ball, if
  more than half way down into the ball then
  additional roots were lost when the tree was dug
• Inspect roots for damage and discoloration

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Balled and Burlapped

• Should ties, twine and burlap be removed?

• YES!

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Balled and Burlapped

• Planting requirements
• Remove all twine, ties, burlap, and wire basket
• Make sure to find the uppermost true root
• Remove soil above the uppermost root to uncover
  the root flare
• Dig planting hole to the depth of the roots and
  plant properly

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Balled and Burlapped

• Knowing the depth of the actual tree roots
  will allow you to dig the hole to the proper
  depth

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Root Balls in Wire Baskets

• Wire baskets should also be removed prior to
  planting

• If soil is dry or ball is cracked, place
  root-ball in the hole then remove the basket

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Making a BB Tree a Bare Root Tree for Planting

• You need a BB tree, a container large enough to
  hold the root ball, and water to soak the tree

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Making a Bare Root Tree

• Remove the burlap and loose soil from the tree
  and place the root ball in the tub
• Fill the tub with water

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Making a Bare Root Tree

• Soak the tree in water for a day or so to loosen
  the soil from the root ball

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Making a Bare Root Tree

• A garden hose can be used to remove soil that
  remains after soaking

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Making a Bare Root Tree

• Adventitious, damaged, and girdling roots can be
  removed prior to planting

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Making a Bare Root Tree

• Place tree in a shallow planting hole

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Making a Bare Root Tree

• Back- fill the planting hole with original soil
  from the site
• Water in well

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Making a Bare Root Tree

• Advantages
• When soil is removed the soil interface is
  avoided
• The root system can be inspected and adventitious
  and girdling roots can be removed
• The tree root flare can be easily found so the
  tree can be planted at the proper depth
• Disadvantages
• The protective layer of soil has been removed, so
  the tree will be more susceptible to drought
  stress if not adequately watered

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Other Root Washed Trees
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Other Root Washed Trees
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Staking and Guying

• Reasons to anchor trees
• Some trees cannot stand without support
• Trees on sloped or windy sites often need
  additional support
• Staking trees in urban areas may reduce vandalism
  and mechanical damage to trees

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Problems with Staking

• Reasons to avoid anchoring trees
• Staked trees often do not develop adequate
  support roots
• Staked trees produce less caliper than unstaked
  trees
• Trees may break during or after staking
• Trees are often girdled by staking materials

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Methods of Staking Trees

• One stake method
• Stake upwind from the tree
• Do not drive the stake through the root ball
• Stake as low as possible while providing
  necessary support
• Tie tree with a figure-8 loop to allow some
  movement so the tree will develop support roots

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Methods of Staking Trees

• Two stake method
• Use a single flexible tie attached to the tops of
  the stakes
• Install stakes high enough to keep the tree
  upright
• Three stake method
• Used in parks and other urban areas
• Better protection against vandalism and
  mechanical injury

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Methods of Guying Trees

• Moderate sized trees
• Three to four guy wires are used to support the
  tree
• Guy wires are anchored to the ground with stakes
  or deadmen
• Stakes should be in line with the wire that is
  attached to the tree
• Large trees
• Eye screws or eye bolts may be used to attach the
  wires to the tree

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Proper Staking Methods

• Material used to attach stakes and guys to the
  tree should be broad, smooth, and somewhat elastic

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Care After Planting

• Mulching
• Wrapping the trunk
• Watering
• Fertilization
• Pruning
• Removal of Stakes and Guys

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Proper Mulching
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Questions?
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Bibliography

• Branching Out, Cornell IPM Newsletter,
  http//branchingout.cornell.edu/picturefolder/GRAP
  HICSCANS/LilacBlt1.jpg
• Maleike and Hummel, Planting Landscape Plants,
  WSU EB1505
• Flott, Jim, Community Forestry Consultants
• Gilman, Ed, Tree Planting, http//hort.ifas.ufl.ed
  u/woody/planting.html
• International Society of Arboriculture,
  http//www.isa-arbor.com/home.asp
• National Arbor Day Foundation, http//www.arborday
  .org/
• Planting and Care, Albany Urban Forest,
  http//www.ci.albany.or.us/parks/urbanforestry/img
  /treeplantdiagram.gif
• Stephenson, David, Community Forestry Program
  Manager, Idaho Department of Lands
• Swift, Curt, Colorado State Extension Service,
  http//www.coopext.colostate.edu/TRA/PLANTS/images
  /ankara3.jpg
• TLC for Trees, http//www.tlcfortrees.info/images/
  TreeTrunkBurlap.jpg
• Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute,
  http//www.ufei.org/
• USDA Forest Service, http//www.fs.fed.us/r10/spf/
  fhp/leaflets/Biraph.jpg

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• Cindy Maitland Deffé
• Environmental Sciences Instructor
• Spokane Community College
• 1810 N Greene Street, MS 2010
• Spokane WA 99217
• 509-533-7260
• cdeffe_at_scc.spokane.edu

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