B. Tree Establishment and Independence

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Extracted Text and Images

1. Tree Establishment and Independence

LHAP 305 – Urban Forestry and Arboriculture

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.

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.

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

Course visual for Tree Health Optimization

5. Site Inspection

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

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

Course visual for Environmental assessment

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

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

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

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

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

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?)

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

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

16. Compaction

Compacted soils restrict water, air, and nutrients available to the plant https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GpDPwfABfRo

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

18. Tree Selection

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

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

21. 3. Tree Selection cont.

Ornamental benefits
Precipitation and irrigation Expected Maintenance

22. Site Preparation

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

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

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

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

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

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

29. Soil Amendments

Compost
Organic Mulches
Bio-Char Bio-solids Sand

30. Nursery Practices

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

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

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

34. Tree Planting

35. 6. Tree Planting

Corrective pruning
Planting hole width
Planting hole depth

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

Course visual for Types of Nursery Stock

37. Tree Establishment

38. 7. Tree Establishment - Maintenance

Water!

Pruning
Fertilizer
Tree Staking or Guying
Trunk Protection
Mulching
Weeding
IPM

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

40. 7. Tree Establishment - Maintenance

Tree maintenance documentation Tree Inventory Management plan

Work plan

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

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