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- Evaluate current health and structural condition.
- Ongoing maintenance to improve longevity.
- Ongoing monitoring and reports.
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- Assess current condition of soil.
- Aerate compacted soils with Air Knife.
- Mix organic material into soil.
- Apply compost tea.
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- Write planting specifications.
- Inspect trees prior to planting.
- Inspect trees post planting.
- Ensure post planting maintenance is carried out.
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Consulting on existing trees in decline:
The average urban tree only lives between 19 and 28 years, that’s a far cry from the potential age of many native species. Think about the loss in terms of environmental, economic and aesthetic deficit and the magnitude grows even more.
Mortality of landscape trees regularly reaches 30% in the first year after planting and many more don’t make it past year three. The high mortality rate can be contributed to the following:
• Planted in poor compacted soils – low soil fertility compounded by little or no drainage from the planting hole
• Planting too deep • Over mulching ­ mulch too high around the trunk • Girdling roots ­ a common problem with container grown and improperly planted trees.
• Lack of post planting maintenance ­ improper application of water and organic material
The vast majority of trees planted in the urban environment are planted inproperly. Typically the hole dug is slightly larger than the root ball. The new roots are unable to penetrate the compacted soil at the edge of the hole so they concentrate in the hole, which causes girdling roots, or they grow out along the surface interfering with turf conditions.
Solutions for existing trees:
•·Evaluate current conditions of existing trees and prescribe treatment. Our team of Internationally Certified
Arborists are trained to assess the health and structural condition of each tree individually.
• Improve soil conditions by fracturing the soils surrounding the tree, using specialized tools, allowing the new
roots to penetrate these soils.
• Root flare excavation, using the Air Knife, to expose girdling roots, which can then can be properly pruned.
• Add organic material to the soil over the root system preferably in the form of composted wood chip mulch.
Preventative Measures:
• Adhere to strict planting specifications in accordance with professional arboriculture standards; preperation of planting hole and surrounding soil, planting depths, addition of organic material and proper maintenance.
• Inspect trees prior to planting to ensure good quality; healthy, good branch structure, no mechanical damage, no disease or insect issues.
• Inspect trees after planting to ensure planting standards have been met.
• Ensure post planting maintenance is carried out.
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Fracturing the soil:
The Supersonic Air Knife converts compressed air, from a portable compressor, to a supersonic jet stream by use of its specially engineered nozzle. The finely­focused stream of air penetrates and fractures the compacted soil allowing water to percolate through the soil and gives the roots more space to grow. Since tree roots are not porous, soil can be excavated quickly with no impact to roots. Maple Hill has extensive experience in the use of the air knife to help
rejuvenate compacted soils.
New Research:
New Resea
The Supersonic Air Knife can be used to excavate sensitive areas without fear of damaging roots, allowing the Arborist to address the underground portion of the tree. It has opened up new opportunities in diagnostic work, soil remediation, excavation, planting and tree health care.
Research with the Air Knife has found that 99% of transplanted trees require corrective work in their root
system. Girdling roots is the main problem especially in trees that have been over­mulched or planted too deeply. This is especially true of container­grown trees. The Air Knife makes it easy to find these problem roots so they can be quickly corrected.
Recent research shows that more than 80% of professional landscape companies either plant trees too deeply or
get them from the nursery too deep and plant them with their roots deeper than they should be.
Soil Compaction Remediation: Soil compaction is the most common problem for trees in urban areas. Compare our urban soils to the soil found in a forest environment. Soil in an undisturbed forest environment is considered to be in its most natural state. The porous soil allows required water and air down to the root systems: the organic duff layer and the biodiversity of organisims in the soil create a sustainable soil for trees.
Most urban soils are very compacted. Tree roots don’t have access to much needed, air, water, and nutrients when attempting to grow in the compacted soils. Compaction commonly occur as a result of both equipment traffic during construction operations and pedestrian traffic during periods when soils are moist and most susceptible to damage.
It’s time we started to pay more attention to the tree below grade…the root system. Traditionally we have used chemical fertilizers to help o
chemical fertilizers to help offset the lack of natural nutrients in the soil. Although chemical fertilizers may benefit trees temporarily they are detrimental to the natural production of sustainable nutrients. Most of the organic material has been removed from our urban soils especially when grass clippings and leaves are removed from the site. In forest soils, which are sustainable, there is substantial biodiversity in the soil, from single cell organisms to earthworms. These organisms utilize the organic material from the trees; their natural life cycles provides soil tillage and makes nutrients available to the tree roots. This natural balance creates the perfect
environment for tree roots to thrive. Our O
environment for tree roots to thrive. Our Organics Program helps to recreate this sustainable condition.
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