Transplanting Practicesand Air Spade Versatility

Tommy Patterson & George LaMay

Trees On The Move

Compiled & Edited By: Eric Mullin

Topics

• Transplanting Practices and Potential Hazards– Use of Non-biodegradable Materials for Root Ball

Retention

• Root Crown Investigation and Treatment

• Root Zone Aeration and Feeding

• Stump Removal and Tree Replacement

• Bare Root Transplanting– Both Small and Large Scale

Transplanting Practices and Potential Hazards

Use of Non-biodegradable Materials for Root Ball Retention

Wire Baskets

Friend or Foe?

Beautiful Hinoki Cypress…right?

Let’s take a closer look.

Wire Baskets

Minimizing Future Misfortune

Ball secured using wire basket. Natural Fiber Burlap and Untreated Brazilian Sisal Twine used for biodegradable properties.

Removing burlap and sisal twine from top of root ball in addition to removing as much of wire basket as possible.

Removal of top dressing down to fine roots as well as exposure of root crown.

Final condition before backfilling.

Nylon Twine

Root Crown Investigationand Treatment

When trees are planted too deep, the Air Spade process is used to expose advantageous and girdling roots so

that they may be removed.

This is another example of the exposure of the girdling and advantageous roots growing around the base of the tree.

Notice the depression left in the trunk by the girdling root that

was removed.

Note the soil line on the trunk of the tree. This is how

much extra soil had to be removed.

The entire bed area has been aerated.

Note the amount of girdling roots

removed from around the trunk.

Notice the concavity that is forming around the base of the trunk due to girdling roots.

These are the trees after the beds have

been Air Spaded and had compost

and soil amendments

added.

Root Zone Aeration and Feeding

Aerating and feeding a very old Beech tree at Cold Spring Harbor Labs

Process begins by punching holes around the base of the trunk and working outward in a consistent pattern.

Our practice is to employ a 12”-Triangular spacing pattern.

The extents of the perforations should extend at least to

the drip line.

Final condition after aeration, feeding, top-dressing and raking.

Stump Removal and Tree Replacement

Dead weeping cherry lodged

between stucco wall and client’s

residence.

Surrounded by groundcover,

Boxwood, Rhododendrons, an electrical relay and

an uplight.

Using a large tarp and plywood to

protect walls from potential power

washing, as well as protecting

Rhododendrons.

Carefully removing as many roots as possible to create adequate room for planting of replacement tree.

Utilizing a crane in order to lift the replacement Weeping Beech into place without disturbing existing landscape.

Before After

Bare Root TransplantingBoth Small and Large Scale

• When limiting circumstances discourage the possibility of hand digging.– Proximity to footings, foundations and utility lines.

– Potential destruction of other significant landscape elements.

– Limited property access.

Subject #1

Situated in an elevated bed from the adjacent grade with patio on one side and a stacked stone retaining

wall.

Careful excavation of the root system.

Pruning roots as close to the retaining wall and patio as possible.

Being careful not to sever any electrical lines.

Light as a feather.

In transit to its new home on the other side of the property.

Subject #2

After removal: roots soaked, covered in burlap and loaded onto flatbed for transit for transplanting at

location off-site.

Subject #3

Pruning roots at drip line. Excavating soil beyond the drip line creating space for excess soil from beneath

canopy.

Utilizing crane to carefully relocate to opposite end of the property. Two additional lines used for steadying

and rotating the face.

Backfilling with mixture of topsoil excavated from site and organic leaf compost. Mixture soaked during backfilling to create ‘slurry’ for aid in anchoring during re-establishment.

Original LocationBefore After

Final LocationBefore After