B. Tree Establishment and Independence

Slide 1 Tree Establishment and Independence LHAP 305 – Urban Forestry and Arboriculture Slide 2 What is tree establishment and independence? Established Planting a tree and getting it through its transplant shock. Roots have grown into the surrounding original soil Tree is actively growing Independent When the tree only needs minimal care from humans, the tree is thriving. Slide 3 Urban Forestry https://maps.calgary.ca/TreeSchedule/ Map of the city trees in Calgary https://data.edmonton.ca/Environmental-Services/Trees-Map/udbt-eiax Map of city trees in Edmonton https://treecanada.ca/urban-forestry-guide/ Large document on Urban Forestry from Tree Canada https://www.isa-arbor.com/ International Society of Arboriculture. Slide 4 Tree Health Optimization What does a healthy tree look like? Steps for establishing a tree Site inspection Soil Inspection Tree Selection Site preparation Getting the trees Tree Planting Maintenance Atlas Tree. (2022, August 18). Tree Health Assessment - When to Call an Arborist With Costs. Atlas Tree. Retrieved September 17, 2025 Slide 5 Site Inspection Slide 6 1. Site Inspection Go to the physical site and look around. What do you see that could be a problem? Or a benefit? Things to consider: Environmental assessment Space available Coyte, M. (2020, July 22). Calgary plans to double its urban forest. The Sprawl. Retrieved September 17, 2025 Slide 7 Environmental assessment What is the hardiness zone of your site? Calgary and Edmonton are zones 4a Olds is zone 3b How much light will the trees receive Winds Moisture levels Suntaira Growers. (2020, October 3). Alberta's Plant Hardiness Zones. Suntaira Growers. Retrieved September 17, 2025 Slide 8 Environmental Assessment Urban heat Island Effect Caused by Roads Buildings Furnaces Air conditioners Heat and light reflection Vehicles and machinery Factories Hanson, L. (2019, October 16). Check out the effect on the Urban Heat. GraniteCrete. Retrieved October 24, 2025 Slide 9 Environmental Assessment De-icing salts On roads On sidewalks Best way to protect trees from de-icing salts would be to not put the salt where the trees are. University of Saskatchewan. (2019, Aug 18). Salinity: Salt damage to soil and plants. University of Saskatchewan. Retrieved Oct 24, 2025 Slide 10 Available Space Root space – roots typically grow out more than they grow deep Identify what current or potential constraints will effect root development If they are close, provide space for roots to grow Use root barriers Suspended pavement like Silva Cells https://www.brightsidestl.org/what-we-do/demonstration-garden/silva-cells/#:~:text=Silva%20Cells%20are%20a%20type,and%20live%20for%20many%20years. Choose the tree to fit the area given Pottstown, PA. (n.d.). Greening our Cities and Towns. Tree Fund Pottstown, PA. Retrieved Oct 10, 2025 Slide 11 Available Space Canopy space How much space do trees have to grow branches? Understand what the trees mature size will be Think up, down, and around Planting trees to fit the area available is key digitalmonkblog. (2024, June 12). Increasing Tree Canopy motion at Council. Do overhead wires and the undergrounding of utilities need to be addressed? City Hall Watch. Retrieved Sept 17, 2025 Slide 12 2. Soil Inspection Soil Texture Drainage Compaction Organic Matter Soil PH Soil volume Icon Homes. (n.d.). Soil Test and Site Survey: Why You Need Them. Icon Homes. Retrieved Sept 17, 2025 Slide 13 Soil Texture Soil testing should be done to determine the texture and the nutrients available Soil lab tests will give you better answers, however you can also use the hand texturing method (remember 1st year?) Slide 14 Landscape Ontario. (2019). Untitled. Landscape Ontario. Retrieved September 15, 2025 Landscape Ontario. (2019). Untitled. Landscape Ontario. Retrieved September 15, 2025 Government of Canada. (2013, June 25). Chapter 17: Terminology for Describing Soils. Canadian Soil Information Service. Retrieved October 10, 2025 Slide 15 Drainage Ability of water to infiltrate into the soil and percolate through the soil. Poor drainage can cause pooling water leading to root rot Excessive drainage can cause draught and cause plants to reach their permanent wilting point Slide 16 Compaction Compacted soils restrict water, air, and nutrients available to the plant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpDPwfABfRo Slide 17 Soil Inspection Organic Matter PH Very difficult to change PH Soil Volume How much soil space do you have? Salt Too much salt can cause deficiencies such as Witches broom, leaf necrosis and reduced growth Slide 18 Tree Selection Slide 19 3. Tree Selection Tree selection involves choosing the appropriate species to fit into your site and soil constraints. Cold Acclimation Native growing conditions Native Species Slide 20 3. Tree Selection cont. Cultivars Biodiversity Biodiversity within a species family Biodiversity rule of thumb Plant no more than 10% of any species – Quercus macrocarpa (Bur Oak) Plant no more than 20% of any genus - Quercus Plant no more than 30% of any family- Fagaceae Pests and Diseases Slide 21 3. Tree Selection cont. Ornamental benefits Precipitation and irrigation Expected Maintenance Slide 22 Site Preparation Slide 23 4. Site Preparation Utility Locates Should be done prior to site inspection for planning purposes. Must be done before use of any machinery for excavation Mechanical Decompaction Use of machines to break up soil. Subsoiling Back-hoe turning Surface Decompaction Radial Trenching Vertical Mulching Slide 24 Subsoiling Using machines to break up compaction under the top soil Usually between 60-90 cm deep. Needing to dig down below the layer of compacted soil. Usually for large projects Earth Tools. (n.d.). Aldo Biagioli Subsoiler/ Ripper. Earth Tools. Retrieved Oct 28, 2025 Slide 25 Back-hoe Turning Begin with Applying soil amendments Usually for small to medium projects Nicosail. (2024, Sept 9). How to Choose Between a Backhoe and an Excavator? Nicosail. Retrieved Oct 28, 2025 Slide 26 Surface Decompaction Rototilling or discing Used for breaking up the top soil layer. Rhoades, H. (2021, June 23). Tips For Tilling Soil In A Garden. Gardening Know How. Retrieved October 28, 2025 Slide 27 Radial Trenching Uses air pressure to create trenches for roots to grow into. Arbor Care Tree Specialists. (n.d.). Radial Trenching Services With Arbor Care Tree Specialists. Arbor Care Tree Specialists. Retrieved Oct 28, 2025 Slide 28 Vertical Mulching The use of compressed air to break up the soil below the surface. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=34oXLQ_H5OU Southern Botanical. (n.d.). Vertical Mulching. Southern Botanical. Retrieved Oct 28, 2025 Slide 29 Soil Amendments Compost Organic Mulches Bio-Char Bio-solids Sand Slide 30 Nursery Practices Slide 31 5. Nursery Practices If possible, take some time and go to the nurseries to build a relationship with the employees and management. If you get a chance to go choose the trees for your project, go do it in person. Roots to Fruits Nursery. (n.d.). Backyard Orchard Collections. Roots to Fruits Nursery. Retrieved Oct 28, 2025 Slide 32 Nursery Practices Talk to the nursery about their Pruning practices Watering Where the stock comes from originally How the trees are grown Planting practices What form of packaging do they do Slide 33 Tree Delivery – Inspect the Trees When the truck shows up and is ready to unload, be there to inspect trees as they come off the truck. Don’t be afraid to reject certain trees if you notice unusual issues Did the truck have the trees tarped? How do they handle the trees? How’s the moisture levels in the root balls? Make sure all the trees you ordered got delivered https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBBg8UbDGEs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcmlEw99yA0 Slide 34 Tree Planting Slide 35 6. Tree Planting Corrective pruning Planting hole width Planting hole depth Slide 36 Types of Nursery Stock Ball and Burlap Potted Plants Bareroot stock Ashridge Nurseries. (2025, September 15). What Are Bare Root Plants? – Ashridge Nurseries. Ashridge Nurseries. Retrieved September 17, 2025 Arbor Day Foundation. (n.d.). How to Plant Balled & Burlapped Trees. Arbor Day Foundation. Retrieved October 28, 2025 Slide 37 Tree Establishment Slide 38 7. Tree Establishment - Maintenance Water! Pruning Fertilizer Tree Staking or Guying Trunk Protection Mulching Weeding IPM Slide 39 7. Tree Establishment - Maintenance Tree maintenance schedule Lets check out this maintenance schedule from University of Illinois https://extension.illinois.edu/sites/default/files/tree_maintenance.pdf Slide 40 7. Tree Establishment - Maintenance Tree maintenance documentation Tree Inventory Management plan Work plan Slide 41 Bibliography Arbor Care Tree Specialists. (n.d.). Radial Trenching Services With Arbor Care Tree Specialists. Arbor Care Tree Specialists. Retrieved Oct 28, 2025, from https://arborcarenw.com/plant-health-care/radial-trenching/ Arbor Day Foundation. (n.d.). How to Plant Balled & Burlapped Trees. Arbor Day Foundation. Retrieved October 28, 2025, from https://www.arborday.org/planting-your-tree/how-plant-balled-burlapped-trees Arborpod. (2017, June 02). Best Practices - selecting Nursery Stock Part 2. Youtube. Retrieved Sept 17, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vcmlEw99yA0 Arborpod. (2017, May 12). Best Practices - Selecting Nursery Stock Part 1. Youtube. Retrieved Sept 17, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EBBg8UbDGEs Ashridge Nurseries. (2025, September 15). What Are Bare Root Plants? – Ashridge Nurseries. Ashridge Nurseries. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://www.ashridgetrees.co.uk/blogs/blog/what-bareroot-tree-hedge-plant-means Atlas Tree. (2022, August 18). Tree Health Assessment - When to Call an Arborist With Costs. Atlas Tree. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://atlas-tree.com/tree-health-assessment/ Coyte, M. (2020, July 22). Calgary plans to double its urban forest. The Sprawl. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://www.sprawlcalgary.com/calgary-urban-forest digitalmonkblog. (2024, June 12). Increasing Tree Canopy motion at Council. Do overhead wires and the undergrounding of utilities need to be addressed? City Hall Watch. Retrieved Sept 17, 2025, from https://cityhallwatch.wordpress.com/2024/06/12/increasing-tree-canopy-motion-funding-and Earth Tools. (n.d.). Aldo Biagioli Subsoiler/ Ripper. Earth Tools. Retrieved Oct 28, 2025, from https://www.earthtools.com/implements-soilworking/subsoiler-ripper/-undergrounding-wires/ Government of Canada. (2013, June 25). Chapter 17: Terminology for Describing Soils. Canadian Soil Information Service. Retrieved October 10, 2025, from https://sis.agr.gc.ca/cansis/taxa/cssc3/chpt17.html Hanson, L. (2019, October 16). Check out the effect on the Urban Heat. GraniteCrete. Retrieved October 24, 2025, from https://www.granitecrete.com/is-it-hot-out-here-or-is-it-just-the-urban-heat-island-effect/ Icon Homes. (n.d.). Soil Test and Site Survey: Why You Need Them. Icon Homes. Retrieved Sept 17, 2025, from https://www.iconhomes.com.au/soil-test-and-site-survey-why-you-need-them/ Landscape Ontario. (2019). Untitled. Landscape Ontario. Retrieved September 15, 2025, from https://landscapeontario.com/assets/1570803523.Ontario_Landscape_Tree_Planting_Guide-2019_updated.pdf Nackley, L. (2023, August 30). Nursery Knowledge: What's in the Pot? - Nackley Lab. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://blogs.oregonstate.edu/nackleylab/2023/08/30/plant-health-whats-in-the-pot/ Nevada Plants. (2022, December 19). Root Pruning New Trees. YouTube. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j8fQ48XSoCk Nicosail. (2024, Sept 9). How to Choose Between a Backhoe and an Excavator? Nicosail. Retrieved Oct 28, 2025, from https://www.nicosail.com/how-to-choose-between-a-backhoe-and-an-excavator/?srsltid=AfmBOoqhkgrx4ohTJlvMGl1ngS6d5HHQFOKSEcoKnBURAFZuUTsQseWE Pottstown, PA. (n.d.). Greening our Cities and Towns. Tree Fund Pottstown, PA. Retrieved Oct 10, 2025, from https://www.pottstowntrees.org/E1-Tree-friendly-sidewalks.html Rhoades, H. (2021, June 23). Tips For Tilling Soil In A Garden. Gardening Know How. Retrieved October 28, 2025, from https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/garden-how-to/soil-fertilizers/how-to-till-a-garden-tilling-your-soil.htm Roots to Fruits Nursery. (n.d.). Backyard Orchard Collections. Roots to Fruits Nursery. Retrieved Oct 28, 2025, from https://rootstofruitsnursery.com/?srsltid=AfmBOoo5cEDPWmgVwRqiwVxjl6ZA3tWoLq4x3yY2MPrHybPzwnkdeu5K Southern Botanical. (n.d.). Vertical Mulching. Southern Botanical. Retrieved Oct 28, 2025, from https://southernbotanical.com/services/tree-care/vertical-mulching/ Suntaira Growers. (2020, October 3). Alberta's Plant Hardiness Zones. Suntaira Growers. Retrieved September 17, 2025, from https://suntaira.com/2020/10/03/albertas-plant-hardiness-zones/ University of Saskatchewan. (2019, Aug 18). Salinity: Salt damage to soil and plants. University of Saskatchewan. Retrieved Oct 24, 2025, from https://gardening.usask.ca/articles-and-lists/articles-healthysoils/Salinity-Salt-damage-to-soil-and-plants.php University of Wisconsin. (2016, November 30). Tools for Measuring Soil Compaction. YouTube. Retrieved September 15, 2025, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpDPwfABfRo