The Benefits of Trees and Planting

Tips for Success

Sacramento Tree Foundation Luanne Leineke Stewardship Coordinator

River-Friendly Landscaping Strategies for Parks

Trees Worth Our Time Worth Our Resources

• Trees are part of our infrastructure, creating a community legacy

• Our children and grandchildren reap the benefits of what is planted today.

Trees

• Vital to community health

– Views of trees reduce stress, creating calmer people

– Trees reduce levels of violence and encourage more sociable neighborhoods

• Trees affect our environment

– Energy

– Air quality

– Greenhouse gasses

– Stormwater runoff

– Habitat

• Wise investment of dollars

Center for Urban Forest Research 4

Energy

Improving Air Quality

Reducing Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide

Reducing Stormwater Runoff

Habitat

Canopies of trees create a corridor through communities

Wise Investment of Dollars

• Trees lower summer temperatures and buffer winter winds

• 100 trees remove 14 tons of CO2 per year

• 100 trees remove over 1000 pounds of pollutants per year

• 100 mature trees catch about 75,000 gallons of rainwater per year

• Shading parking by 50% increases air quality, resulting in a one ton per day reduction of pollutants in the atmosphere

Planting Tips for Success

• Site Selection

• Tree Selection

• Planting

Site Selection

• Planting space

• Analyze soil

• Compaction

• Drainage

Planting Space

Analyze Soil

Red Acidic Yellow Neutral Blue Alkaline

Compaction and Drainage

Tree Selection

• Root defects

• Planting depth

• Canopy structure

• Trunk

Avoid circling roots, kinked roots, descending roots or rootballs that are loose around the trunk.

Root Defects and Planting Depth

•Central leader •Evenly spaced branches that are less that 2/3 of the trunk •Lower branches left on and cut shorter •Free of co-dominant stems or other upright branches that would compete with the central leader

Canopy

University of Florida Ed Gilman

•Inspect the tree for signs of disease or pests; damage to leaves, active insects

Canopy

University of Florida Ed Gilman

Trunk

• Good pruning cuts

• Branch bark collar and branch bark ridge apparent

• No defects from bracing, standing water or pruning University of Florida Ed Gilman

Planting

•Remove sod and discard • Make a 4 foot wide hole, shallow enough to allow the rootball to be 1 ½-2” above soil level •Dig 8” down around the sides to create a pedestal of undisturbed soil

Planting

Prepare the root ball - loosen the root ball and remove any circling roots, using sharp tools

Planting

•Measure the root ball on the pedestal to ensure that it is slightly above the ground level •Fill soil in just around the root ball, not on top of it •Use soil amendments or fertilizer only if soil has been analyzed

Planting

•Remove nursery stake from the trunk •If tree does not stand upright, stake with two stakes, 18 in. from trunk •Tie ties loose on tree and firmly on stake to allow growth and movement •Maintain 4 in. mulch on top of soil, away from the base of the trunk

Planting

•After planting soak the rootball and area well • Check soil frequently for over or under watering •Sprinklers alone are not adequate and shallow watering can cause surface roots

Resources

•http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/ Noted photos Edward F. Gilman, Professor, Environmental Horticulture Department, IFAS, University of Florida •http://www.fs.fed.us/psw/programs/uesd/uep/ Urban Ecosystems and Social Dynamics Program Greg McPherson Urban Ecosystem Team

Thank you!

Learn more at sactree.com