Progress 10/01/01 to 09/30/06
Outputs
OUTPUTS: Activities and events: Much of the information from this project continues to be taught and integrated into my lectures and workshops including those at Trees Florida annual conference, the annual Great Southern Tree Conference, approximately 5 or 6 other annual extension programs throughout Florida, and at dozens of practitioner conferences across the US and other countries. Products and dissemination: All this information is available online as research reports and in html format at http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/planting.shtml. PARTICIPANTS: Annual training is available at the Great Southern Tree Conference in Gainesville Florida annually. TARGET AUDIENCES: Target audiences include arborists, landscape contractors, tree growers, landscape architects, municipalities, and urban foresters. Efforts include the extensive web site http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/ and many extension programs in Florida and in about ten other states annually. I directly reach about 4 to 5,000 professionals annually through lectures, workshops, and field days. PROJECT MODIFICATIONS: Not relevant to this project.
Impacts
It is difficult to discuss impact because we have not measured it. We recieve approximately 3,500 unique hits on the landscape plant web site http://hort.ifas.ufl.edu/woody/ monthly. It is difficult to know who uses the information and how many people implement it. There certainly is much discussion in the profession on how to plant and establish trees, and we have contributed a considerable amount to the scientific literature on the topic. Our tree pruning best management practices document guides the pruning practices of the 22,000 professional arborists in the International Society of Arboriculture. Illustrated guide to pruning (second edition) continues to be used as the standard text to teach tree pruning in the US, and in some other countries.
Publications
- Gilman, E.F. 2001. Effect of nursery production method, irrigation, and inoculation with mycorrhizae-forming fungi on establishment of Quercus virginiana. Journal of Arboriculture 27(1): 30-39.
- Gilman , E.F., A. Stodola and M.D. Marshall. 2002. Production techniques for Highrise TM and seedling live oak. J. Environ. Hort. 20(2): 127-132.
- Gilman , E.F., A. Stodola and M.D. Marshall. 2002. Root pruning but not irrigation in the nursery affects live oak root balls and digging survival. J. Environ. Hort. 20(2): 122-126.
- Gilman, E.F., M. Marshall and A. Stodola. 2002. Irrigation and container type impact red maple five years after landscape planting. Journal of Arboriculture 29:231-236.
- Gilman, E.F. 2004. Effects of amendments, soil additives and irrigation on tree survival and growth. Journal of Arboriculture 30:301-310.
- Gilman, E.F. and J. Grabosky. 2004. Mulch and planting depth affect live oak establishment. Journal of Arboriculture 30:311-317.
- Gilman, E. F. and P. Anderson. 2006. Root pruning and transplant success for Cathedral live oaks. J. Environmental Hort. 24:13-17.
- Eckstein, R. and E. F. Gilman. 2008. Evaluation of landscape tree stabilization systems. J. Arboriculture and Urban Forestry 34:216-121.
- Gilman, E.F. and S. Lilly. 2008. Best management practices: Tree pruning (revised). International Society of Arboriculture, Champaign, IL.
- Gilman, E.F. 2002. Illustrated guide to pruning, second edition. Delmar Publishers, Albany NY. 330 pgs.
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Progress 10/01/05 to 09/30/06
Outputs
The objective of this research was to compare the effects of different root management techniques on Cathedral live oak during nursery production to reduce transplant stress in the urban landscape. Six techniques were applied to trees during the 39-month field production period,which included: 1)fabric under root ball plus hand spade root pruning during the last year of production, 2)fabric under the root ball plus hand spade root pruning multiple times during production, 3)fabric under the root ball and no hand spade root pruning, 4)no fabric under root ball plus hand spade root pruning during the last year of production, 5)no fabric under the root ball plus hand spade root pruning multiple times during production, 6)no fabric under the root ball and no hand spade pruning. Trees that were root pruned regularly throughout the production period grew at a slower rate than trees that were not root pruned, but root pruning only in the last year of production did not affect
trunk and canopy growth. Trees with root-pruning fabric installed under liners at planting grew at the same rate as trees without fabric during 39 months of field production. Hand spade root pruning throughout the production period increased the number of small diameter (<3mm) roots and decreased the number of large diameter roots in the root ball compared to trees that were not root pruned. Root pruning only in the last year of production reduced the number of large diameter roots but did not increase the number of small diameter roots. Fabric had no impact on the root system. Root pruning with a hand spade throughout production or only in the last year of production reduced water stress significantly in trees following digging compared to trees not root pruned during production. Root-pruning fabric installed under liners at planting reduced stress following digging 39 months later, but only on two of the days when water stress was measured.
Impacts
Transplant stress and tree death can be costly to tree sellers, landscapers and upsetting to customers. Improving techniques for minimizing stress and maximizing survival are important for increasing canopy cover and improving efficiency in reforesting the urban landscape. Stress after transplanting may be reduced by decreasing the leaf area that is transpiring as a result of root pruning. Root pruning Cathedral oak in the last year of nursery production was the most efficient compared to root pruning through out production. It also resulted in the largest trees with good root systems and excellent survival.
Publications
- Gilman, E.F. and Anderson, P.J. 2006. Root pruning and transplant success for Cathedral Oak live oaks. Journal of Environmental Horticulture 24(1): 13-17.
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Progress 10/01/04 to 09/30/05
Outputs
We installed concrete sidewalks 10 cm thick measuring 1.2 m wide by 5 m long were installed with and without barriers designed to deflect roots. Forty-eight Platanus occidentalis from #15 containers were planted 0.75 m from the sidewalks and irrigated regularly to encourage rapid growth. Identical studies were installed on one well drained and one poorly drained site located about 18 km (11.2 miles) apart. Barriers included 30 cm (12 in) deep DeepRootTM, BiobarrierTM, polyethylene (6 mil), 15-cm-deep clean gravel (2-3 cm diameter) layer under the walk, and a control without a barrier. Roots were excavated 8 years after planting. No roots grew in the gravel in the well drained site resulting in a significantly deeper root system [19 cm (8 in)] under the walks than all other treatments [11 cm (4 in)]. Vertical root barriers did not increase root depth compared to the control on the well drained soil. Gravel under the walk and BiobarrierTM were most effective on poorly
drained soil. DeepRootTM was the least effective vertical barrier on the poorly drained site; BiobarrierTM was the most effective. Treatments had no effect on diameter of roots growing under the sidewalks. Roots deflected by the vertical barriers were forced deeper into the soil but many returned to the surface by the time they reached the opposite side of the walk. Gravel under the sidewalk appears to hold promise for reducing sidewalk damage, especially on well drained sites.
Impacts
Research on root barriers will provide urban foresters, city planners, and landscape architects with information to make decisisons about local methods for keeping roots well under the bottom of sidewalk slabs. An inexpensive technique, using gravel under sidewalks, performed at least as well as vertical barriers. The polyethylene and Deep Root barriers did not encourage significantly deeper roots or fewer roots in the top 10 cm-layer of soil than the control in either well-drained or poorly drained soil.
Publications
- E. Gilman. 2005. Deflecting roots near sidewalks. Journal of Arboriculture.
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Progress 10/01/03 to 09/30/04
Outputs
The objective of research this year was to compare red maple (Acer rubrum L.) root and canopy growth five years after landscape planting from seven different container designs maintained under two irrigation regimes. Trees planted from low profile air root pruning containers had larger trunks five years after landscape installation than those planted from regular air root pruning containers, wood boxes with cupric hydroxide coating, or standard black plastic containers with cupric hydroxide coating. Despite significant differences in root weight and amount of deflected roots among container types when trees were planted in the landscape, root number, root depth, and radial root distribution around the trunk were identical five years after planting from all container types. However, frequency of irrigation in the first 24 weeks following planting had a significant effect on root system structure even five years later. Frequent irrigation resulted in larger trunks, more
roots, greater root cross sectional area, and a more uniform radial root distribution. The increase in root growth on frequently irrigated trees occurred exclusively in the top 30.5 cm (12 in) of soil. Codominant stems four years after planting were equally common regardless of production method and irrigation treatment. With the exception of the low profile air root pruned container, the reduction in root defects on the outer surface of root balls grown in containers designed to reduce defects appeared to provide no measurable benefit to trees five months or five years after planting into the landscape. Irrigation management after planting had a more positive impact on landscape root growth and distribution than container type.
Impacts
Irrigation management after planting had a more positive impact on landscape root growth and distribution than container type. Good management practices, including irrigation, increase the likelihood for survival of urban trees.
Publications
- Edward F. Gilman, Jason Grabosky, Ann Stodola, and Michael D. Marshall. 2003. Irrigation and container type impact red maple five years after landscape planting. Journal of Arboriculture.
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Progress 10/01/02 to 09/30/03
Outputs
This part of the study was designed to evaluate the impact of several planting depths and mulch depth, particle size and placement on tree establishment. Except for one period 2 weeks after transplanting, mulch depth and mulch particle size did not affect first-year stress (stem xylem potential) or growth of 76 mm (3 in) caliper B&B transplanted live oak (Quercus virginiana Mill.). Negative effects of deep [15 mm (6 in)] mulch 2 weeks after transplanting only occurred for the mixed particle sized material. Mulch placed over the root ball intercepted water causing a drier root ball and resulting in greater tree stress and reduced survival following light applications of water then trees with no mulch over the root ball. This did not occur following heavy applications of water. Keeping the ground near trees free of vegetation chemically had the same effect on post-planting stress and growth, as did mulching. Soil over the root ball resulting from deep planting
intercepted water resulting in more tree stress and greater likelihood of tree death in the first four weeks after planting. However, trees planted deeply were less stressed three months after planting. No root ball settlement occurred in the first 6 months after planting container grown trees.
Impacts
Because keeping the ground free of vegetation had the same effect on survival and growth as mulching the first year after planting, eliminating turf around transplanted trees by mulching or by maintaining the ground bare of all vegetation can reduce stress and increase survival of urban trees.
Publications
- Edward F. Gilman and Jason Grabosky. 2004. Mulch and Planting Depth Affect Live Oak Establishment. Journal of Arboriculture.
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Progress 10/01/01 to 12/31/01
Outputs
A funded project is in the developmental stage to evaluate tree growth in paved environments. Sites in Florida that have been planted over 10 years ago with design records will have tree-pavement details and trees in non-paved planting zones. Trees will be measured for canopy and trunk growth and matched with the pavement cover percentage and geometry surrounding the tree. Different tree-pavement design details will be evaluated for a realistic tree canopy expectations in site design to meet tree canopy ordinances in paved areas. In collaboration with Cornell Urban Horticulture Institute, trees planted in NYC and Ithaca, NY surrounded by pavement and established in manufactured soils, have been monitored to look at tree growth and viability compared to growth in vegetation strips of agricultural soil. Initial results show no significant difference or greater shoot growth in the manufactured pavement base material 5 years after transplanting. The data demonstrates the
viability of designed skeletal soil materials which can meet pavement design needs and provide a root system in the tree establishment phase in paved urban environments. Tree maintenance often entails pruning. A series of experiments on live oak and red maple demonstrated the differences in wound reaction and hydraulic constriction through the branch protection zone of subordinate branches to codominate stems. The work additionally focused on isolating visual indicators of branch collar and protection zone presence to predict consequences of pruning wounds in branch removal, and determine angle of cut on branches lacking collars.
Impacts
Designed tree soils can improve urban tree growth which is slower than demand to use new media, so evaluation documents the risks of use. Legislated mandates provide formulae to assign tree canopy cover in urban design, but use park-like tree growth, not the reduced growth expected in paved areas. The project develops regional data for realistic design, and evaluation of pavement-tree details.
Publications
- Grabosky, J. 2001 "Chapter 13: Trees and urban construction" In: P. Lancaster (Editor). Construction in Cities. CRC Press. Boca Raton, 157-191.
- Grabosky J., N. Bassuk, L. Irwin, H. van Es. 2001. "Shoot and root growth of three tree species in sidewalk profiles". Journal of Environmental Horticulture. Dec 2001.
- Grabosky, J., N. Bassuk, and BZ Marranca. 2002. "Street tree shoot growth in two skeletal soil installations compared to tree lawn plantings." Journal of Arboriculture. In Press
- Eisner, N., E. Gilman and J. Grabosky. 2002. Branch morphology impacts compartmentalization of pruning wounds. Journal of Arboriculture. In Press
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