TALL POT TREESTALL POT TREES

A “New” Technique for Arid A “New” Technique for Arid Land Revegetation ProjectsLand Revegetation Projects

Diana Stuart, Environmental Program ManagerDiana Stuart, Environmental Program Manager

Flood Control District of Maricopa CountyFlood Control District of Maricopa County

Where did this idea come from?Where did this idea come from?

• European forestry departments have used European forestry departments have used tube-growing methods for several decades.tube-growing methods for several decades.

• Tube-grown horticultural plants have been Tube-grown horticultural plants have been used in the S/E United States for about 20 used in the S/E United States for about 20 years.years.

• In the mid-1980s, a researcher from San In the mid-1980s, a researcher from San Diego State University began Diego State University began experimenting with using long tubes to experimenting with using long tubes to grow arid land tree species. grow arid land tree species.

• The idea started to catch on - - - The idea started to catch on - - -

• - - - In the late 1980s, Joshua Tree National - - - In the late 1980s, Joshua Tree National Park began growing tall pot plants on a Park began growing tall pot plants on a large-scale for revegetation projects in large-scale for revegetation projects in California;California;

• In the 1990s, the Arizona Game and Fish In the 1990s, the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and the Center for Native Department, and the Center for Native and Urban Wildlife at Scottsdale and Urban Wildlife at Scottsdale Community College began growing tall pot Community College began growing tall pot plants in Arizona.plants in Arizona.

Part of Joshua Tree N P Nursery Set UpPart of Joshua Tree N P Nursery Set Up

Tall Pot Nursery – Scottsdale Community CollegeTall Pot Nursery – Scottsdale Community College

Flood Control’s Tall Pot HistoryFlood Control’s Tall Pot History

• In 2001, after seeing the success of using In 2001, after seeing the success of using tall-pot grown trees at Arizona Game and tall-pot grown trees at Arizona Game and Fish and Scottsdale Community College Fish and Scottsdale Community College projects, Theresa Pinto started the projects, Theresa Pinto started the District’s Tall Pot Nursery.District’s Tall Pot Nursery.

• On a “shoestring” the Nursery produced On a “shoestring” the Nursery produced over 1000 trees in its first year.over 1000 trees in its first year.

The early Tall Pot Nursery with pots on The early Tall Pot Nursery with pots on the ground and an overhead irrigation the ground and an overhead irrigation system.system.

• The Flood Control District has The Flood Control District has experimented with several irrigation experimented with several irrigation system layouts, several germination system layouts, several germination techniques, and several planting methods. techniques, and several planting methods.

• The FCD Tall Pot Nursery currently has The FCD Tall Pot Nursery currently has the capacity for 6000 trees, and is growing the capacity for 6000 trees, and is growing 4000 this season. 4000 this season.

Why Tall Pots?Why Tall Pots?

Characteristics of Arid Land Trees:Characteristics of Arid Land Trees:

• Most species have very long, fast-growing Most species have very long, fast-growing tap roots that reach to find soil moisture.tap roots that reach to find soil moisture.

• Tap root length is several times height of Tap root length is several times height of above-ground stems.above-ground stems.

• Foliage grows rapidly in hot weather but Foliage grows rapidly in hot weather but goes dormant when weather cools.goes dormant when weather cools.

Anatomy of an Arid Land TreeAnatomy of an Arid Land Tree

What Happens in a Typical Container?What Happens in a Typical Container?

• Tap roots grow around and around in Tap roots grow around and around in bottom of container. bottom of container.

• Trees become root bound.Trees become root bound.

• When planted, root ball needs to be spread When planted, root ball needs to be spread by hand. by hand.

• Tap root is spread, but still shallow.Tap root is spread, but still shallow.

• Tap root has to re-orient and grow toward Tap root has to re-orient and grow toward soil moisture.soil moisture.

• If not irrigated, tree can become stressed If not irrigated, tree can become stressed or die before reaching soil moisture.or die before reaching soil moisture.

Typical Root-bound PlantsTypical Root-bound Plants

What Happens in a Tall Pot?What Happens in a Tall Pot?

• Growing in a long tube allows the tap root Growing in a long tube allows the tap root and the ancillary roots to follow their and the ancillary roots to follow their natural tendency to reach for soil natural tendency to reach for soil moisture.moisture.

• Even without irrigation, this slight head Even without irrigation, this slight head start is often the difference between tree start is often the difference between tree survival and tree mortality.survival and tree mortality.

Tap Root From A Cut-Open Pot At Tap Root From A Cut-Open Pot At

Scottsdale Community CollegeScottsdale Community College

What is a “Tall Pot”?What is a “Tall Pot”?

• Tall Pots are long, narrow tubes with wire Tall Pots are long, narrow tubes with wire mesh at the bottom to hold in soil.mesh at the bottom to hold in soil.

• The District uses 10-foot lengths of #D2729 The District uses 10-foot lengths of #D2729 PVC, 6-inches in diameter, cut into 4 each PVC, 6-inches in diameter, cut into 4 each 30-inch long tubes.30-inch long tubes.

• Squares of wire mesh hardware cloth are Squares of wire mesh hardware cloth are put in the bottom to hold in the soil.put in the bottom to hold in the soil.

Tall Pot Tubes Ready for Use in FCD NurseryTall Pot Tubes Ready for Use in FCD Nursery

Yes, we have specs - - -Yes, we have specs - - -

The Flood Control District has produced The Flood Control District has produced a full set of specifications for tall pot a full set of specifications for tall pot tube fabrication, rack fabrication, soil tube fabrication, rack fabrication, soil mixture, and planting methods. These mixture, and planting methods. These are available for both growers and are available for both growers and end-users upon request.end-users upon request.

Typical Tall Pot Cross-sectionTypical Tall Pot Cross-section

Planting Tall Pot TreesPlanting Tall Pot Trees

• To provide root/soil moisture contact, To provide root/soil moisture contact, planting hole is: planting hole is:

– narrow diameter and as deep as pot,narrow diameter and as deep as pot,

– augured or drilled with post hole digger,augured or drilled with post hole digger,

– filled with water before planting.filled with water before planting.

What about irrigation?What about irrigation?

• With irrigation, arid land trees do best if With irrigation, arid land trees do best if planted in the early spring to take planted in the early spring to take advantage of their peak growing period advantage of their peak growing period during the warm/hot months.during the warm/hot months.

• Without irrigation, arid land trees do best Without irrigation, arid land trees do best if planted in fall or early winter - - - if planted in fall or early winter - - -

– Roots continue to grow even when Roots continue to grow even when above-ground growth slows; above-ground growth slows;

– Trees get established without the stress Trees get established without the stress of summer heat; andof summer heat; and

– Winter rains provide just enough waterWinter rains provide just enough water

- - - - - - USUALLYUSUALLY..

But there’s a trick:But there’s a trick:

• The Flood Control District specifies planting with The Flood Control District specifies planting with DriWaterDriWater® at our project sites when irrigation is ® at our project sites when irrigation is not feasible.not feasible.

• DriWaterDriWater®® is water blended with a cellulose gum is water blended with a cellulose gum and gel-based matrix.and gel-based matrix.

• Soil organisms consume and metabolize DriWater® Soil organisms consume and metabolize DriWater® and the by-product is free water.and the by-product is free water.

• DriWaterDriWater® ® gives plants a steady gives plants a steady moisture boost as they establish, moisture boost as they establish, regardless of seasonal rains;regardless of seasonal rains;

• It slowly delivers water to the root It slowly delivers water to the root zone for up to 90 days; zone for up to 90 days;

•The containers are biodegradable so The containers are biodegradable so they can be left in place.they can be left in place.

Installing DriWaterInstalling DriWater®®

Protection methodsProtection methods

• Seedlings and saplings can be protected in Seedlings and saplings can be protected in several ways. There are advantages to several ways. There are advantages to each method:each method:

– Chicken wire cagesChicken wire cages

– Biodegradable protectorsBiodegradable protectors

– Liquid FenceLiquid Fence® spray® spray

Biodegradable protectors in the NurseryBiodegradable protectors in the Nursery

and at a project sight. and at a project sight.

Some Tall Pot Success Stories: Some Tall Pot Success Stories:

• In the South to grow more productive In the South to grow more productive Pawpaws.Pawpaws.

• Over 1300 Tall Pots with 98% Over 1300 Tall Pots with 98% survivability used for a highway project survivability used for a highway project near Santa Fe, NM.near Santa Fe, NM.

• Revegetation project in Death Valley N.P. Revegetation project in Death Valley N.P. with 87% survivability.with 87% survivability.

• Several hundred Tall Pot trees used to Several hundred Tall Pot trees used to revegetate Red Rock Canyon State Park in revegetate Red Rock Canyon State Park in California after the filming of Jurassic California after the filming of Jurassic Park!Park!

• More than 10,000 Tall Pot trees used by More than 10,000 Tall Pot trees used by Cal Trans (California DOT).Cal Trans (California DOT).

• The revegetation of Cienega Creek in Pima The revegetation of Cienega Creek in Pima County by Pima FCD.County by Pima FCD.

• And - - - ?And - - - ?

FCD Chandler Mitigation SiteFCD Chandler Mitigation Site

During Planting in 2004, and July, 2005During Planting in 2004, and July, 2005

McMicken Dam Project Site McMicken Dam Project Site

Before Revegetation – Summer 2005Before Revegetation – Summer 2005

Summary of Why Using Tall Pots is Summary of Why Using Tall Pots is a Good Policy:a Good Policy:

• Substantial cost savings over installing Substantial cost savings over installing irrigation systems or frequent use of water irrigation systems or frequent use of water trucks; trucks;

• Higher survivability in harsh Higher survivability in harsh environments.environments.

• Works with the natural rooting Works with the natural rooting tendencies of arid land species.tendencies of arid land species.

Acknowledgements:Acknowledgements:

• Theresa Pinto, Project Manager, Planning Branch, Flood Control Theresa Pinto, Project Manager, Planning Branch, Flood Control DistrictDistrict

• Ben Ganados, Ecology Technician, Planning Branch, Flood Control Ben Ganados, Ecology Technician, Planning Branch, Flood Control DistrictDistrict

• Jean Graham, Biologist, Native Tree Nursery, Joshua Tree National Jean Graham, Biologist, Native Tree Nursery, Joshua Tree National ParkPark

• Roy Barnes, Director, Center for Native and Urban Wildlife, Roy Barnes, Director, Center for Native and Urban Wildlife, Scottsdale Community CollegeScottsdale Community College

• Russ Haughey, Habitat Program Manager, Arizona Game and Fish Russ Haughey, Habitat Program Manager, Arizona Game and Fish DepartmentDepartment

QuestionsQuestions??

For Tall Pot technical For Tall Pot technical questions:questions:

Diana StuartDiana Stuart

602.506.4766602.506.4766

dms@mail.maricopa.govdms@mail.maricopa.gov

For Planting or Nursery For Planting or Nursery operations:operations:

Ben GanadosBen Ganados

602.506.8612602.506.8612

bag@mail.maricopa.govbag@mail.maricopa.gov