[CANUFNET] Water retention and tree planting

[Mark Peterson]

MessageHello Ian:
In our work in S. Ontario we likely get more rain than you do but we have had some extended droughts in the past nine years. 

We always mulch our restoration areas (the whole planting area not just the plant areas) with wood mulch that has been tub-ground as fine as possible but not too fine (or too course). Too fine and it disappears too fast; too course and it does not knit together to form a moisture barrier and is difficult to spread evenly by heavy equipment. Experience has shown that mulch that is up to 12 inches plus deep has not resulted in any problems. In fact we have found that, over time, the deeper the mulch the richer the resulting soil and the faster the plantings grow. (Mulch is not mounded up around plant stems.)

We have used compost as a soil amendment to a mineral soil (about 2:1 to 3:1 soil/compost). The soils in our area can be high clay so the planting soils are saturated until the growth of the plantings begin to draw moisture out of the soil.

Hope this is helpful.

Mark Peterson, BES, MLArch, OALA 
Mark Peterson & Associates, Landscape Architect
(519)743-2990        www.openspacesolutions.com



----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Ian Wilson 
  To: urbNRnet ; Canadian Urban Forest Network 
  Sent: Monday, August 13, 2007 6:16 PM
  Subject: [CANUFNET] Water retention and tree planting


  I grow trees in a semi-arid area (on average, 11 inches of rain and 4 inches of snow per year)

  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.

  I've looked at various products in the past for improving the water retention in the planting hole.

  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?

  thanks, Ian


  Ian Wilson, MPM, RPF, Certified Arborist

  Urban Forestry Supervisor

  Parks

  City of Kelowna Recreation, Parks and Cultural Services

   

  Phone: (250) 469-8842

  Fax: (250) 862-3335

  Parks 

  1359 KLO Road

  Kelowna, B.C., V1W 3N8

  www.kelowna.ca

  iwilson at kelowna.ca






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