<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class="">Beth,<div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Tim has some excellent suggestions. The use of wood chip mulch under the grates is one that I applaud.</div><div class="">So much microbial activity occurs under those chips that benefit the tree. The CityGreen website has some interesting tree grates and guards to keep the mulch in place.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Here in Vancouver, any of the<i class=""> Quercus</i> do well in our downtown sites. Mind you, they can get quite </div><div class="">large. This is where root barriers seem to help immensely. </div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Smaller soil volumes usually means smaller trees. Trees that do well in swampy conditions are </div><div class="">often successful in urban ones i.e. compacted soils, low oxygen and small pore space. Mind you, </div><div class="">roots can be a problem and are species and site specific. Always put in good soil and healthy trees</div><div class="">to start. I certainly like Tim’s approach to non-burlap installs. Some people use bare root with moisture-</div><div class="">retaining gel (I saw that on a Martha Stewart program once). Although not specific to the concrete jungle, </div><div class="">the pdf below may be of some use to you. Watering bags seem to be the norm now. The City of Vancouver puts</div><div class="">on its new tree these Please Water Me Tags for the public to respond to. I haven’t met many newly-planted trees</div><div class="">that have been killed by overwatering them.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Lastly, I hope that you and Tim keep those important prominent city hall trees in optimum condition. </div><div class="">The pdf shows that - and few others.</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Best,</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">John Martyn, Consulting Arborist</div><div class="">JPM Tree Service</div><div class="">Since 1996</div><div class="">Coquitlam, BC</div><div class="">604.789.4045</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""></div></body></html>