[CANUFNET] Nailing trees

[Kowalyk, Bohdan (MNRF)]

Good for expressing concern about biodegradability of materials Bruce.  I’ll take this opportunity to express disappointment in the common practices of nailing inventory tags and trail signs into trees.  This does not show respect for the trees or their environment that supposedly is being promoted.

Regards,

Bohdan Kowalyk, R.P.F.

From: CANUFNET [mailto:canufnet-bounces at list.web.net] On Behalf Of Ian Bruce
Sent: June-30-16 12:50 PM
To: Canadian Urban Forest Network
Subject: Re: [CANUFNET] Canadian or U.S. jute tree tie suppliers

I saved this message as a draft and forgot about it, but I have a lot of experience over 44 years staking and tying trees and assessing every manner of tree tie material.  So I decided later better than never.

I would start by saying that back in the 90s Landscape Ontario and OALA co-operated to put together the LOHTA/OALA committee of industry experts to look at high mortality of newly planted trees due to transplant shock.  Well-known industry experts like Tony DiGiovanni, and at the time, Horst Dickert and John Putzer and others on the 8 person committee approached the question by listing all of the reasons for transplant shock and then one by one listed the best alternative that supported transplant success and free growing on.

The outcome of the above year-plus project was the development of the "Reference Guide For Developing Planting Details".  The guide includes a well-laid out description of the issues and recommended methods for planting for success.  The document was revised in 2005 and nothing much has changed.  The methods outlined are in most cases the result of years of experience on the committee and research all over North America (one of the most important and local experts being Dr. Glen Lumis from U of G.  I strongly suggest that anyone looking to put together a detail (BR, B&B, CG, WB or tree-spade dug) would be well-advised to contact LO for a copy of this guide.  (side note: we also put together a similar document entitled "A Reference Guide For Selecting and Handling Plant Material".

The above-noted planting detail guide sought to eliminate the use of any material used in the above-ground planting operation that did not biodegrade in a reasonable period of time if whoever planted it forgot about follow-up inspection and maintenance.  Out of that we recommended taking strips of regular loose weave burlap (such as the material used to ball, burlap and drum-lace trees) and rolling it and tying the tree in a figure 8 with a couple of twists between stake and tree to keep the stake itself from banging, rubbing or girdling the trunk.

Today with an emphasis on time-saving and a uniform method and finished product where many crews and hands are involved, I recommend 2" wide closely woven burlap.  It biodegrades reasonably quickly, comes in an easy to manage and stow (in a truck) roll, and is quick and easy to apply. If you want something to spec for large quantity contract or in-house plantings, this is the material.  As noted by others, Timm Enterprises carries this material.

Our operations division also uses Arbor-tie synthetic webbing in other tree support applications where we need the least obtrusive material in highly ornamental landscapes where clients get put off by "unattractive, crude" materials like burlap.  The cautionary message here is that being synthetic (and very strong) this material will last a long time and not degrade quickly enough or adequately enough to avoid girdling of the trunk or getting caught and included in the union of a lower branch and the trunk.
Rather long-winded I guess, but proper planting (second only to proper species and plant selection and careful handling) is at the root of future health, vitality and longevity of the trees in our urban forest canopies.
Happy Canda Day weekend.

Cheers,
iAN

[Inline image 1]

On Tue, Jun 28, 2016 at 11:08 AM, Alice Casselman <alice.casselman37 at gmail.com<mailto:alice.casselman37 at gmail.com>> wrote:
We use burlap for ties around stakes for young trees
Timmenterprises.com<http://Timmenterprises.com>
Great family business west of Toronto talk to Heidi the daughter running the business
Alice for ACER

Sent from my iPhone

On Jun 28, 2016, at 10:32 AM, Master Plan, Urban Forest <ufmp at halifax.ca<mailto:ufmp at halifax.ca>> wrote:

Hello:

Is anyone aware of a Canadian or US supplier of jute tree ties?  The product is available in Europe, Australia and NZ.  Some suppliers will ship internationally but I’m hoping to find something a bit closer to home.  Here’s an example of the product.

http://www.advancelandscape.co.nz/shop/Plant+Stakes++Ties/Jute+Tree+Tie+Webbing.html

Thank you,
John Charles
UFMP Project Manager
Halifax Regional Municipality
PO Box 1749
Halifax, NS  B3J 3A5
T.  902.490.5771<tel:902.490.5771>
C. 902 476.7372<tel:902%20476.7372>



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