[CANUFNET] Water retention and tree planting

Thu Aug 23 18:27:04 EDT 2007

Do you drive heavy equipment through your restoration areas?

Philip van Wassenaer

Mississauga, Ontario

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From: canufnet-bounces at list.web.net [mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net]
On Behalf Of Mark Peterson
Sent: Monday, August 20, 2007 9:13 AM
To: Canadian Urban Forest Network
Subject: Re: [CANUFNET] Water retention and tree planting

Hello 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 <mailto:IWilson at kelowna.ca>  

To: urbNRnet <mailto:urbNRnet at LIST.TREELINK.ORG>  ; Canadian
<mailto:canufnet at list.web.net>  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 <http://www.kelowna.ca/> 

iwilson at kelowna.ca

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