Top Tree LLC can help you manage any tree hazards you have on your property. We are some of the best arborists in the Tri-Cities and can either give you advice on how to manage your trees or perform any preventative maintenance you need.

Do not excavate within tree protection zones, unless otherwise indicated and approved. Before excavation, pad preparation, or grading for foundations, footings, walls, or trenching, relevant trees shall be root pruned 1 foot outside the tree protection zone as described below.

Where excavation for new construction is required within tree protection zones and approved, hand prune or utilize root pruning techniques described below prior to excavation. Do not allow exposed roots to dry out before placing permanent backfill. Provide temporary earth cover or pack with organic material and wrap with burlap. Water and maintain in a moist condition.

Temporarily support and protect roots from damage until they are permanently relocated and covered with soil. Where utility trenches are required near tree protection zones, tunnel under or around roots by drilling, auger boring, pipe jacking, or digging by hand around individual roots to mitigate damage to the root system and tree. A Supersonic Air tool (air spade) can also be used safely to open trenches without severing roots. See diagram below.

We will continue this series over the next few months covering a wide array of topics. Don’t forget, when you’re looking for the best tree care company in the Tri-Cities, we’d love the chance to earn your business.

Top Tree LLC can help you manage any tree hazards you have on your property. We are some of the best arborists in the Tri-Cities and can either give you advice on how to manage your trees or perform any preventative maintenance you need.

Post-planting care should include:
Watering. Too much or too little water after transplanting is a major cause of tree
transplant failure. The site should be thoroughly watered immediately after planting, after
which the soil must be regularly monitored to prevent drying out. If rainfall is inadequate,
the soil around the plant’s roots should be deeply watered approximately every 10-14
days. If you are not sure if the soil is drying, dig down 3 to 4 inches next to the plant. Wet
soil at that depth verifies watering is not needed at that time.

Mulches help conserve moisture, moderate soil temperature and control weeds
around trees and shrubs. They are placed on the soil surface over the tree or shrub root
system. They should be applied 3 to 4 inches deep. Maintain a 4 to 6-inch mulch-free area
adjacent to the woody stems.

Fertilizer. Newly planted trees should not require fertilizer. Only fertilize if a soil test
indicates a deficiency. Transplanted trees should be fertilized around one year after
planting. The best material for small trees is well-rotted stable manure, added as a two-inch
layer of mulch around the tree annually. If chemical fertilizers are used, a formulation such as 10-8-6 or 10-6-4 is preferred. Use about 2 lbs per inch dbh. For evergreens, use half the recommended amount of chemical fertilizer, or use only organic fertilizers. Make holes 18 inches deep and 2 feet apart with a punch bar, crowbar, or augur, around the drip line of the tree. Distribute the fertilizer evenly into the holes, and close the holes with the heel of the shoe, or by filling with topsoil or peat moss. Fertilize trees in late fall or early spring before leaves emerge.

We will continue this series over the next few months covering a wide array of topics. Don’t forget, when you’re looking for the best tree care company in Burbank, we’d love the chance to earn your business.

Top Tree LLC can help you manage any tree hazards you have on your property. We are some of the best arborists in the Tri-Cities and can either give you advice on how to manage your trees or perform any preventative maintenance you need.

If any woody plants cannot be planted for more than a week, their roots should be
covered with mulch or moist soil and the plants should be placed in a protected and
shaded area. In all cases root systems should not be allowed to dry out; dry roots can
severely decrease the potential for transplant success.

Trees and shrubs must be protected when transporting to a planting site. Covered trucks
and vans are best, but if a pickup truck is used, a tarp must be in place to protect the plant
canopies and roots from drying winds in transit.

Planting and Post-Planting Care
Adequate planting holes are vital to initial tree survival during transplants. Tree pits should be dug two to three times wider than the transplant tree’s root ball. If the soil is clay and the sides of the hole become glazed during digging, the sides of the hole should be roughened with a shovel or spade. Tree pits should be pre-watered before planting in dry soils, as this prevents initial post-plant water from migrating away from the root ball.

Transplanted trees should be replanted at the same depth from which they were removed
for successful transplant. Damaged roots caused by transplanting should be clean-cut with a sharp blade prior to planting to prevent stress. If any circling or kinked roots are discovered during the transplantation procedure, sever them to prevent future girdling of the plant. Orient the tree in the same direction, relative to the sun, as it was facing in its previous location.

We will continue this series over the next few months covering a wide array of topics. Don’t forget, when you’re looking for the best tree care company in Benton City, we’d love the chance to earn your business.