Tree Selection Flashcards
What are some site priorities
cold heat tolerance, moisture needs, soil needs, and light
Why is it important to pick the right tree?
ensure long term benefits, beauty, and satisfaction. A poorly planned tree species will require more frequent and costly maintenance. The goal of the tree planting is to maximize the inputs necessary for it to be sustainable.
What is acclimation
It is the gradual process by which a given tree adapts to changes in its environment. This usually involves physiological or morphological changes
What is adaptability
the genetic ability of a species to adjust to different environmental conditions
What is site consideration
Evaluating your planting site before selecting a tree
(site characteristics)
What is the microclimate effected by
buildings, topography, pavement, and other surroundings
What can be plants be limited by
growing space, water availability and drainage, soil texture and pH, light levels, weather and site use or function
Why is growing space important
when selecting the type of tree to plant in a particular site. The area must be large enough above and below ground to allow tree to reach its potential mature height, branch spread, trunk diameter, and root volume without interfering with surrounding objects
Why are light levels important an important consideration
Excessive shade can be a problem for some trees because many trees are not adapted for low light conditions
excessive light may cause additional stress to trees overheating leaves in summer and possible sunburn on branches
why are soil conditions important for sites
advisable to get a soil analysis to determine the texture, pH, soluble salts, and nutrient levels of the soil
soil quality is its water-holding capacity and drainage
alert to soil contaminants such as herbicides in the planting site could be toxic.
what is design criteria for trees
functions include engineering, architectural, and personal safety considerations such as controlling pedestrian traffic or hiding unsightly buildings features
Problem with urban sites
underground space is limiting, and the original soil has been greatly disturbed. Soil compaction may be extreme, the pH may be inappropriate , and moisture levels are likely to be suboptimal
what are some specific tree characteristics that make trees more desirable
exfoliating bark, features that attract, birds, or an interesting branching habit. Some trees are admired for their flowers or leaf color change in the autumn
Why should arborists consider future maintenance for tree sites
Some plants require more water than others, and supplemental irrigation or drainage may be necessary in some landscape situation. Ensuring adequate water is especially important in the first and second growing seasons following planting
install trees that will not need irrigation after the first two seasons
Some trees may need to be pruned regularly for health or size maintenance
What are the problems with fast growing trees
weak, brittle wood and develop multiple branches with included bark that may break easily in storms, They usually do not live as long as trees with more moderate growth rate
Why is it favorable to consider particular growth forms when selecting a tree
offer a solution to a growing-space problem
Cultivars of some tree species are available with different growth forms such as upright, pyramidal, or weeping. Trees with different growth forms also provide a variety of architectural effects in the landscape.
What is hardiness
Is a plant’s ability to survive winter growing conditions and often refers specifically to low temperatures
plants that are considered hardy in a given zone may still decline or die because of low temperatures if their roots are above ground in containers or if the microclimate around the plant is unusually cold. ( Furete)
Why are roots systems important in site considerations
rooting space available can restrict the choices of trees that can be planted. Some trees have a strong tendency to form surface roots that can damage pavement and cause problems for lawn mowers
What tree is stressed by high temperatures or dry conditions
moneterrey pine, torrey pine
what type of tree almost was wiped out but then a new cultivar was created and saved it
meyer lemon (pest/insect resistance)
what are similar to hardiness zones that help with selection
heat zone maps
what is a native species
a tree that grows well in its natural environment and range
what is an introduced/invasive species
a species that is considered non native to the ecosystem and whose introduction causes or is likely to cause economic or environmental harm
what are naturalized species
a tree that has been reproducing and thriving in their new setting for decades or even centuries
what type of plants should arborist look to find for our mediterranean climates
bulletproof
why is climate change important to consider
consider plants to change with future climates
what type of tree should you look for in a nursery
Healthy tree NOT the biggest/tallest tree
Look for trees that have vigorous growth with vigorous shoot growth, vigorous trees will grow better and establish quickly.
Watch out for signs of pests, diseases, broken twigs, broken branches, bad or cracked graft union.
Check for good structure, good branch spacing, trunk taper, a dominant leader, no included bark.
Check out tree for mechanical damage injuries, sturdy trunk base.
Why should you examine the root ball at a nursery before buying
Look for the root/trunk flare to see if it is exposed and try to find flare before buying it.
Make sure the tree has not grown out of container or box
what can improper planting resulting in for trees
lead to increased stress and long term physiological disorders
what are different types of forms of trees to plant
Bare root Containers Box Transplanting
Whats are bare root trees
small young trees that come in sawdust bags you find at home depot in spring. They cost a little less than container trees. They come with roots but most of the finer roots are dried out when harvested
what are important things to consider when planting bare root trees
roots need to be kept moist
planting during the dormant season
conifers/deciduous trees come in bare root
should be planted with the root plate/ trunk flare above grade
may have to stake it after tree starts to leaf out because of weight
what are container trees
Many trees are sold in nursery containers. They are grown with good soil to get them started. If properly watered and maintained, trees can be planted any time of year as long as it’s not freezing.
If planted after leaf drop ( fall ), roots can begin to establish before the next growing season.
Things to look for with container trees
check the root system and look for circling roots or matted roots along the wall of the container.
Don’t buy trees with woody, circling trees
Look out for container trees that have grown into the soil from out of drainage holes.
What are boxed trees
trees that are eventually grown in wooden boxes
They come in 24 inch, 36 inches, 48 inches, 60 inches, 72 inches, and sizes that are bigger
things to look for in boxed trees
Trees in boxes should be check for circling roots and roots growing out of the bottom of the box.
what is dig alert
service that you can call prior to planting a tree to come by and check your front yard for underground utilities
where is the root flare born and what is the diff how nursery and nature plants trees
In the germination process, a seed starts to grow out and establish its root flare on the surface of the soil
What should be taken into consideration for roots growth when for planting techniques
lower portions of the ball is often reduced due to poor soil aeration on poor drainage, especially in heavy or shallow soils
how big should we make the hole when planting a tree
A saucer shaped planting hole two to three times the width of the root ball at the soil surface, sloping down to about the width of the root ball at the base, is ideal for oxygen levels in clay soils. Wider holes are just better for root growth. ( 24 in. box roots )
What is a common planting mistake
planting too deeply. The planting hole should never be deeper than the distance from the trunk flare to the bottom of the root ball
Planting too deeply can occur unintentionally because containerized and boxed trees can arrive from the nursery with too much soil covering the structural roots. Remove soil if it is covering root flare before planting. (Avo pic flare)
Why you shouldnt dig hole deep
hole will have to be backfilled and soil will settle over time and tree’s root ball will sink, drown, and suffocate the tree. This can cause soil borne insects or pathogens to enter the trunk that leads to future rots. Imagine a telephone pole in the ground.
how do you plant a tree in clay soil
plant trees slightly higher, with 2-3 inches above grade. Soil can be added gradually to taper out from the top of the rootball’s original grade but should not be placed over root ball. Exposed root ball and surrounding area can be covered with 2-4 inches of mulch.
what does research say about backfill when planting
modifying the backfill of soil with amendments does not assist in tree establishment and growth unless the soil at the site significantly restricts root growth.
what should you do if the planting sites original soil is not conductive for root growth,
make the soil texture around the root ball as uniform as practical.
What do you to combine backfill when planting
lightly fill with water
what is important to do when tree is planted regarding watering
regular irrigation schedule
watering berm
gator bags if not monitored enough
what is transplanting
Transplanting a tree involves the additional procedures of digging and preparation for moving
some negative things to consider when transplanting
remove as much as 90 percent of its root system
unpractical to do unless the species has a high survival rate
It might be cheaper to remove a tree and replant for a much higher rate of success
palms high success rates
what is best time to transplant
in temperate climates, is early spring or fall while the tree goes dormant.
evergreen trees are easier to transplant while dormant.
what is an tactic that can be used in advance before transplanting
root pruning
What is root pruning
process of pre-digging around a root ball to increase the density of root development within the final ball. The digging process serves existing roots and stimulates root regeneration
if time is not an option for root pruning
slowly dig out the root ball by slowly cutting roots in increments over time, allowing roots to start the process of regenerating and have the tree recover a little before being root pruned again.
what should you do to the branches before moving the tree
tie together the branches and avoid damage of bark
important thing to consider when digging for a transplant
Larger trees need deeper root balls to encompass more roots to ensure adequate regrowth, as well as anchorage and stability .Depth can be less for smaller trees or for trees that are not deeply rooted.h
how is the width of the root ball determined
by tree caliper, the depth of the root ball may vary with species, soil texture and other conditions, irrigation practices, and the age and size of the tree
things to consider when cutting for a transplant
first cuts around the perimeter of the root ball with a sharp spade or shovel
dig the initial ball several inches larger than the final ball size
Perform the shaping and final cuts by hand
what do you wrap root ball in for transplanting
wrap burlap or plastic wrap so soil does not fall off and expose roots
early care to consider when the tree is planted
Proper planting alone does not guarantee that newly planted tree will survive through its first growing season and until it is established
Pruning should not be done to canopy to compensate for root loss.
what is transplanted shock
tree experiences post planting water stress after transplanting
what does success of transplanting depend on and what is the genral rule of thumb
The rate of recovery depends on species, planting season, soil, site conditions, moisture availability, climate, and tree size and vigor
reestablishment is about one year for every inch of tree diameter
Smaller -diameter transplants with smaller root balls tent to recover faster.
what about proper watering is key for a transplanted tree
Water requirements will vary with species, plant size, climate and soil type.
Trees should be watered based on need , not by calendar or clock. To assess need, check with a moisture meter.
Water in slowly to deep water entire root ball
Too much moisture will displace oxygen and can be detrimental.
what is not recommended to do with transplanting trees
fertilizing them. but if you have to slow release
what type of mulch can be used for transplanting trees
inorganic and organic
when should stake a tree
if the tree can not stand on its own because of a heavy canopy
negatives of staking
produce less trunk taper,
develop smaller root systems
more subject to breaking or tipping over after stakes are removed.
Stakes can injure or girdle by guying materials
what type of pruning should follow planting
limited to corrective pruning
trees will grow more rapidly if pruning is limited to only broken or damaged branches.
Site considerations for climates
Hardiness zone
Heat/cold
Rainfall/ snow/ frost
Sunlight/ other lighting
Prevailing Winds
Exposure
Site considerations for Soil
pH
Drainage
Soil Texture
Bulk Density
Cation exchange capacity (CEC)
Nutrient analysis
Soil Volume
Site consideration for planting site location
Buildings and other structures
Paved surfaces, hardscapes
Clearances needs below branches
Plans for future development
Overhead and underground utilities
Intended use for site
Intended function of tree/plant
site consideration for maintenance
Irrigation
Post-planting care
Ongoing maintenance
