Tree Maintenance — Wire Basket Manipulation and Tree Stabilization (03-DG-11083150-630)

This project contains information on how to best plant trees on urban sites.

Trees are a vital component of our urban land areas and communities, and yet some of the actual practices and products we use to plant trees are highly controversial. Many anecdotal reports exist that attribute tree stress, decline, or death to wire baskets left intact (unaltered) when balled in burlap (B&B) trees are installed, and to improper tree stabilization (staking). Short term results of the wire basket portion of this project have shown that significant alteration, or total removal, of the wire basket at planting time may necessitate otherwise unnecessary/undesirable tree stabilization. Air excavation of tree roots in the various wire basket treatments revealed no significant damage to the roots in any treatment. This portion of the project will be continued for at least five more years. Mixed results were obtained with the stabilization portion of this project. On one site tree stabilization was necessary due to tree type and wind exposure. On a second site there was no benefit from using any stabilization method or product. This research demonstrated that stabilization should not be mandated on all tree planting sites, but should be decided and based on site conditions and uses, tree sizes and conditions, and planting practices and maintenance.

1.To determine how wire baskets should be handled (altered or manipulated) during landscape installation.

2.To determine the long term consequences and impacts on tree maintenance of not manipulating or altering wire baskets during landscape installation.

3.To compare and contrast the most common current tree stabilization methods (stakes/wire and hose guying) with new above-ground trunk support systems.

4.To compare and contrast above-ground stabilization (staking) with new below-groundsystems that anchor or stabilize root balls.

Attachments

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

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