<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META HTTP-EQUIV="Content-Type" CONTENT="text/html; charset=us-ascii">
<TITLE>Message</TITLE>
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2900.3132" name=GENERATOR></HEAD>
<BODY>
<DIV><SPAN class=282160922-13082007><FONT face=Arial size=2>I grow trees in a
semi-arid area (on average, 11 inches of rain and 4 inches of snow per
year)</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=282160922-13082007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=282160922-13082007><FONT face=Arial size=2>One of our biggest
challenges with tree planting is water. Many of our plantings are
irrigated and we also water with a truck, but we are trying to reduce water
usage.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=282160922-13082007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=282160922-13082007><FONT face=Arial size=2>I've looked at
various products in the past for improving the water retention in the planting
hole.</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=282160922-13082007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=282160922-13082007><FONT face=Arial size=2>Has anybody tried
using various soil amendments, such as "Water-lok", clay, or even just compost
or organic matter amendments, and can you pass on your
experiences?</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=282160922-13082007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=282160922-13082007><FONT face=Arial size=2>thanks,
Ian</FONT></SPAN></DIV>
<DIV><SPAN class=282160922-13082007><FONT face=Arial
size=2></FONT></SPAN> </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV><FONT size=2><FONT face=Arial><SPAN lang=en-ca>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Ian Wilson, MPM, RPF,
Certified Arborist</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Urban Forestry
Supervisor</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Parks<?xml:namespace prefix =
o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">City of </SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Kelowna</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"> Recreation, Parks and Cultural
Services<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Phone: (250)
469-8842</SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"></SPAN><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Fax: (250)
862-3335<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Parks <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><st1:Street><st1:address><SPAN
lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">1359 KLO
Road</SPAN></st1:address></st1:Street><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN
lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Kelowna</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN
lang=EN-US style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US">, B.C., V1W
3N8<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><A
href="http://www.kelowna.ca/">www.kelowna.ca</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0cm 0cm 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><A
href="mailto:iwilson@kelowna.ca">iwilson@kelowna.ca</A><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P align=left></SPAN></FONT></FONT> </P>
<DIV> </DIV></BODY></HTML>