Cost Effective Sidewalk Planting Site Rehabilitation (03-DG-11244225-423)

This project concentrated on rehabilitating tree species in order to increase inflitration of precipitation, increase air exchange and increase the trees development.

In the Fall of 2003, the planting sites of three Acer plantanoides and seven Tilia cordata were rehabilitated with the installation of 1.07 meter (3 feet) long perforated plastic pipes installed vertically at the base of the trunks and a two series of holes separated by 40.64 centimeters (16 inches), 2.54 centimeters (1 inch) in diameter, drilled and spaced 40.64 centimeters (16 inches) on center in a radial pattern concentric to the trees drip-line and filled with loose sand. During the growing seasons (April through November) of 2004, 2005 and 2006, these trees received 75.71 liters (20 gallons) of water weekly, delivered over a thirty minute period. Annual stem growth measurements were observed for the years 2001 through 2006. The study group showed a 31% increase in annual stem growth compared to the control group which showed a 13% increase during the same study period. The treated Acer specimen displayed an 85% increase in annual stem growth over the untreated Acer specimen, while the Tilia specimen showed similar increases for both groups. Annual precipitation levels during the study period was 32% greater than the three years prior to the study period. The treatment provided for greater infiltration of precipitation, increased air exchange and increased the study trees development, specifically on some Tilia specimen and markedly on the Acer specimen.

Project objectives:

The projects main objective is to evaluate a cost-effective means of more acutely optimizing the potentially realized life-span of green-scape with its associated hard-scape. The projects operational objectives are best reflected in the Project Timeline: Fall 2003 – Install vertical stacks, access holes and gauges; Fall 2003 – Collect baseline yearly stem growth measurements of all trees examined; April – November 2004 – Weekly monitoring of rainfall amounts and determination of necessary supplemental water amounts, and supplying any measured difference; October 2004 –Collect yearly stem growth measurements of all trees examined; April – November 2005 – Weekly monitoring of rainfall amounts and determination of necessary supplemental water amounts, and supplying any measured difference; October 2005 – Collect yearly stem growth measurements of all trees examined; April – November 2006 – Weekly monitoring of rainfall amounts and determination of necessary supplemental water amounts, and supplying any measured difference; September 2006 – Collect yearly stem growth measurements of all trees examined; and Conduct data analysis. Complete final project report, prepare for distribution, dissemination and implement, and develop and distribute a reader-response survey, as part of the evaluation process of the projects impact/success. Complete and submit final N. U . C. F. A. C. project accounting.

Attachments

Click here to download this final grant report as a PDF.

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