TREE PROGRAM EQWell.ca
EQWell TREE PLANTING PROGRAM EQWell.ca Welcome to the neighbourhood! Qualico Communities is happy to provide all new residents with trees for their yard. Enclosed is important information on the care and maintenance of new trees. To ensure proper growth and survival, we recommend that homeowners read and follow the guidelines suggested in this document. It should be noted that for the first and second growing seasons, a tree will not exhibit much active growth as most of its energy is spent promoting new root systems and establishing itself in a new environment. This is a very important step to establish a plant that will thrive. A tree that is planted and not cared for will die. By caring properly for your tree, you will ensure its survival, and in return, it will enhance the landscape and your property value.
BASIC TREE AND SHRUB CARE It is possible to be a water-wise gardener and still care properly for your newly planted trees and shrubs. New trees and shrubs should have moisture at all times. Never allow the rootball to dry out. Once the ground is dry 4 below the surface, it is time to water again. This is easily monitored by sticking your finger into the soil. If you go on holidays, saturate your new tree thoroughly before you leave or ask a neighbour to water it. WATER WISE MAINTENANCE After a tree is planted, it should be thoroughly saturated for the first two or three days to ensure moisture has perforated the rootball completely. For the remainder of the season, the new tree should be watered once a week, ensuring the rootball stays moist at all times. Allow water to trickle in the tree well slowly for a long period of time, rather than blasting it with water quickly, as this allows the water to sink lower around the rootball and thoroughly saturate it. During the second growing season, the tree should be watered two to three times a month, depending on weather conditions, starting in May for most shrubs and deciduous trees and in April for evergreens. Around mid-august slowly begin to cut your watering time in half, but never let it dry out completely. This process is called hardening off and prepares the tree for winter. FERTILIZING Proper plant nutrition and pest control will keep your trees and plants looking their best. Trees and shrubs require fertilizer to promote growth and resistance to disease and insects. Slow acting fertilizer can be applied up to the middle of July as plants need to begin the hardening off process for the coming winter. WINTER CARE AND FROST DAMAGE PROTECTION When leaves in the neighbourhood turn colour and start dropping, saturate the soil around your trees and continue keeping it moist until the temperature drops to freezing. Just before the ground freezes, it is advisable to thoroughly saturate the rootball with water so that it is solidly watered-in and ices when the ground is completely frozen; this will protect your tree from frost damage. During long Chinooks, trees may require additional watering to keep the rootball frozen and thus prevent damage to the tree. Once the ground has frozen, it is a good idea to cover the top of the rootball with mulch, such as grass clippings, leaves, wood shavings, etc., for additional winter protection. Plant material also requires protection from rodents, such as rabbits, who like to eat the tender bark of many tree species, resulting in death to the tree. Use a wire net set a little distance from the trunk or loose plastic tree-wrappers around the trunk to deter pests. Do not forget to adjust or remove as the tree grows to prevent choking the tree. MULCH To capture rain and conserve water, form a saucer of bare soil around the base of shrubs and trees; do not expose any roots. Cover the bare soil in the saucer with 10 centimetres (4 inches) of organic mulch such as bark or wood chips to prevent evaporation. This allows moisture around the tree to be retained for longer periods of time, reducing evaporation and thus reducing the amount of water you use.
HOW TO PLANT A POTTED TREE 1. Location: Selecting the correct spot for your tree is essential to minimizing problems decades into the future. In the wrong spot, tree branches can grow into eaves, power lines, and fences causing irritating and expensive repairs. In the right spot, trees will need only occasional pruning to maintain shape and healthy branches. a. Where you can t plant: The City of Calgary has specific regulations concerning the location of trees relative to utilities that are commonly found on residential properties. Shallow utilities (ATCO, Enmax, Telus, Cable): minimum 2m Fire Hydrants: Minimum 2.5 to 4.0 m, depending on species Street Lights: Minimum 4.0 to 5.0 m, depending on species b. Where you shouldn t plant: Trees should not be planted where they will grow into overhead structures like eaves, overhangs, or fences. Nor should they be planted in a low spot in the yard where water might collect and drown the tree. c. Where you should plant: Feel free to pick up and move your potted tree around your yard to find the spot you prefer before digging the hole. Try it as a screen to block the view from your neighbours, or near a patio or seating area for shade in the summer. Keep in mind that your little potted tree could grow as large as 15 m high and 10 m wide for larger species and be sure the spot you select has enough space for that mature size. 2. The Hole In most residential communities, the ground is made up of 15 cm (6 inches) of topsoil atop a heavily compacted clay base that can be difficult to dig into. The upper layer of dark brown topsoil is relatively easy to dig and should be piled separately from the clay beneath so it can be used when back filling around the tree. The clay should not be used to refill the hole as it will cause the soil to be too heavy, retaining too much water and not allowing oxygen into the root zone. The hole should be at least twice the diameter of the pot, and the depth should be equal to the height of the root ball once the tree is removed from the pot. If the hole is not deep enough, the tree s roots will dry too quickly. If the hole is too deep, the tree can essentially suffocate and die. Tree roots want to grow horizontally through the soil, not vertically into the ground, so the wider you make the hole, the happier your tree will be. 3. Removing the Tree from the Pot Your tree will have been in the pot for a minimum of one full season, and it may be a little stubborn. Have a friend hold the pot and pull on the trunk as close to the surface of the soil as you can grip. If it does not come out directly, it will need some persuasion. Ideally, a long, thin strip of metal a cake knife works well can be run around the inside of the pot to free any roots that may have bound to the sides of the pot. If that doesn t work, or you don t have an appropriate tool, a few taps with a small hammer around the outside of the pot should do the trick. Be careful not to hit so hard that you loosen the root mass itself or the tree will be damaged.
HOW TO PLANT A POTTED TREE HOW TO PLANT A POTTED TREE 4. Planting the tree Place the root ball in the centre of the hole and gently massage the root mass to loosen them up slightly. This helps roots grow outward into the hole instead of continuing to grow as though it was still in the pot this is essential to have roots growing outward to stabilize the tree as it grows. Be sure that the level of soil in which the tree has been growing is at the same level as the topsoil around it and then start backfilling. Add soil a few inches at a time and firm it with your boots to eliminate air pockets. Add a little water now and then and repeat until you ve filled the hole to the level of the surrounding area. At this point, it is vitally important that your tree is watered immediately. This helps settle the soil and ensure that your tree won t shift later. 5. Care and Maintenance For the first summer, water your tree at least once a week. If your tree is allowed to dry out, it will die. Fertilizer shouldn t be necessary in the first season, but a dose of high phosphorous fertilizer will help root growth. DO NOT USE high nitrogen fertilizer until the second season, as this will encourage more leaf growth than a young root system is able to support. As with any fertilizer, read and follow the directions on the container. Failure to do so can kill a tree. OTHER CONSIDERATIONS WHEN TREE PLANTING Decide what you want from your tree: Landscape feature Shade Ornamental flowers or fruit Privacy screening Attract birds or butterflies to your yard Requirements for best growth: Sunlight Water Soil quality (PH & nutrients) Competitiveness with other trees and plants Size of tree at maturity: Proximity to buildings, other trees, sidewalks, etc. Obstacles overhead Interference with views Shading Underground consideration: Water and sewer line conflicts (Poplars, Willows & Birch) Large surface roots in lawns, patios, pathways, etc. (Poplars) Aggressive roots near waste and sewers services COMMON PESTS AND DISEASES Below is a list of the more common pests and diseases that can occur in trees in our area: Black Knot Fungus - large knots (abnormal growth) of bark that encircle the branch. Elm Scale - tiny crawling insects on tree leaves, twigs and branches. Ash Psyllid - small insects on tree leaves, resulting in curling leaves. Yellow-Headed Spruce Sawfly - caterpillar-like insect on spruce needles. Aphids - small pear-shaped insects that feed on plant sap. Fire Blight - a bacterial disease that browns and kills leaves, flowers and branches. Ash Leaf-Cone Roller - caterpillar/moth-like insect that rolls tree leaves. Bronze Leaf Disease (BLD) - is new to the Calgary area and affects certain poplar and aspen trees. Dutch Elm Disease (DED) is a fungus spread in elm trees by the elm bark beetle. Alberta is DED-free and works diligently to stay that way. (Official Website of the City of Calgary, Copyright 2009) There are many different pests that can infest Calgary and area s urban forest.
QUALICO S TREE PLANTING PROGRAM Online Tree Ordering - Submit your order at: EQWell.ca As part of our commitment to the urban environment and to establish our communities as desireable and attractive, Qualico Communities provides all new residents with trees for their yard. Qualico Communities also plants a variety of deciduous tree species on the boulevards and medians within the community. We have defined a list of trees that meet approval within your municipality. This list may change from time to time dependant on the success of various tree species in our climate. Things you should know: In most cases tree-planting in a Qualico Community starts in June and finishes up in October. Trees will be planted by the landscaper in the FRONT YARD only. If grass is planted in your yard before you get your tree, the landscaper will take extra care not to disturb your new grass. If you do not want a tree(s), you must call our landscaper prior to planting time to advise them. Occasionally utility constraints will prevent the landscaper from planting a larger tree in your front yard. In these instances, the landscaper will offer two potted trees in lieu of the larger tree planted by them. Potted trees come in 15-gallon pots and will be dropped off for homeowners to plant in their chosen location. Tree Planting Process: Once your lot has received final grading and loam from your builder, you will receive a letter from our landscaper. The letter outlines the planting process and provides a list of trees available for selection in your area. Register your tree selection at EQWell.ca or contact the landscaper with your selection by the due date indicated in the letter. The landscaper will make arrangements with Alberta 1st Call to mark the locations of all underground utilities in your front yard. The City of Calgary and City of Airdrie require that all trees are planted outside of any Right of Way (ROW). A stake will be positioned by the landscaper in the location most suitable for the tree. Planting will start as soon as possible after the tree location has been marked, and residents have placed their tree orders (weather permitting and usually within two weeks). Please note: Our landscape contractors commit themselves in the quality of the trees planted. To ensure proper growth and survival, please ensure that you care for your trees regularly as we cannot offer a warranty on plant material. Trees that do not survive will not be replaced. Please review the Tree Planting Care and Maintenance Brochure for instructions on how to care for your trees. Please refer to instruction on how to plant your potted trees included in this brochure.