Illinois Chapter ISA Certification Workshop Installation & Establishment Chapter 7 Jennifer Hitchcock
Summary Planting Transplanting Staking & Guying Care after planting
Selection of Trees Choose quality trees for planting -good branching/structure & root system -check depth of roots Planting Specifications 1. Bare-root (without soil) 2. Balled & Burlapped (B&B) field grown 3. Containerized or container grown Right tree for right site -wet or dry soils, space limitations, shade
Planting Trees Overview Most trees are planted in spring or fall Want roots to be moist Roots stop growing less than 45F temps
Planting Time Spring Planting: April- early June Fall Planting: late Sept-Nov *Not recommended for Fall planting: -Fruit trees, mountain ash, birch, willow, linden, pagoda dogwood, sumac, oak, poplar, honeylocust, maple, hackberry, Russian olive, ironwood and hawthorn.
Planting Trees Bare-root -mostly younger deciduous or small conifer seedlings -keep moist or stored cold (32-40 F) & moist -plant in dormant season (early Spring is best) -spread roots over a compacted mound -if have taproot fill soil in spaces to top level
Bare-root Planting
Planting Trees Balled and Burlapped Synthetic/treated burlap or Biodegradable? -remove burlap or top of burlap from surface -remove twine/rope from trunk *wire baskets-cut away upper 1/3-1/2 of basket -plant Spring throughfall (more rainfall in Spring)
B&B Planting
Hardening Off Need new root generation from being dug in field
Planting Trees Container Grown Similar to Ball & Burlapped planting specs Score sides of root ball to encourage root growth out of circle pattern Good: roots already grown into a root ball (no roots lost) Bad: need to check roots that are loose (bare root trees recently planted) or girdling roots
Container Planting
Planting the Hole
Planting the Hole Guidelines Call BEFORE you DIG Never handle a tree by lifting its stem/trunk Two-three times as wide as the root ball Remove any container, burlap or ropes At soil level or up to 1 high (esp younger trees) No fill dirt or rocks in bottom of hole Reduce air pockets and additional compaction Develop a ring or doughnut around outside of ball
Planting the Hole Poor Drainage sites Common with clay soils Plant 3-5 higher than grade/top of soil Look for a perched water table (saturation) Amend soil with compost to improve soil
Poor Drainage Site
Transplanting Removes up to 95% of roots Early Spring or Fall after leaf drop Large trees in winter if prep work is done Reduce root loss with root pruning before dig Transplant 10x DBH (e.g. 7 DBH=70 root ball) Common 30-36 deep tapering on sides Use drum lace pattern on a pedestal w/excess burlap (Details in book)
Transplanting
Tree Spades 1. Used in transplanting field trees Dig depending on size of spade and tree (Larger spade than tree) Plant tree upright from cone shaped root ball 2. Used in digging holes for planting Dig wider hole than root ball Hand dig sides as necessary for root growth
Tree Spade
Tree Spade Requirements
Staking Only stake if tree needs support (falls down) Reasons to stake: 1. Windy sites 2. Large conifers or bare-root trees 3. Reduce vandalism or mechanical damage
Staking
Staking Use 1-2 stakes to support tree Place upwind of tree Do not drive stake through root ball Allow for movement of tree Smooth, elastic material around tree One stake: figure 8 support Two stakes: flexible tie to center point of trunk
Guying For larger trees over 4 diameter Use 3-4 wires around tree Using guy wires into ground with anchor (stakes, land anchors, or deadmen) Place anchors in ground toward the tree
Guying
Establishment Takes at least a year (avg.) to actively grow again Rule: one year for every inch diameter Younger the tree, easier to adapt & grow Do not fertilize for up to a year Limit pruning-only dead, broken, diseased limbs Tree wraps are not necessary Tree guards help against mechanical injury
Care after Planting 1. Water Transplant shock from root loss stress Rainfall or water 1 per week Drench root ball (1 gal per diameter every 5-7 days) 2. Mulch up to 4 around tree, not against trunk No black plastic under mulch 3. Remove staking/guying material after 1 year
Watering Guide during Growing Season
A Careful Planted and Watered Tree is a Happy Tree Check out: http://www.na.fs.fed.us/spfo/pubs/uf/treegu idehtm/chapter6.htm