Five Factors in Plant Health Care to Assure your Project Reaching Optimal Performance

Transcription

1 (February 8, 2018) Five Factors in Plant Health Care to Assure your Project Reaching Optimal Performance Scott Courtright, Director of Natural Resources & Consulting Arborist

2 Optimize Plantings - Nature as the Model Mimic Nature, and you will have success Dr. Charles Shilling, LSU Forestry Professor 1991 Realistic Goals and Aligned Expectations Species Selection Species Placement Observe Surrounding Ecology Plant Health Care System Management (O&M)

3 Native Species, Mature Size and Placement Awareness A square peg will not fit into a round hole If the knowledge of the species is lacking at the design, then it may show during the project maturation Natives are already adjusted to native site conditions

4 Native Species cont d Select Natives Native to the site Native to the soils Native to the conditions Typically, they are readily available Resistant to/tolerate environmental conditions and insects Adjusted to temperate and climate stresses

5 Mature Size cont d Knowledge of: Mature size Habit/shape Insect issues Flowering/fruiting Root system Branching structure ph of soil-available & needed Pioneer or climax Constraints Species specific Environmental

6 Mature Size cont d Knowledge of: Anthropogenic impacts Direct-if plant fails, what risks are nearby? Indirect-what will plants attract to our site? Will this plant cause additional issues at the site (leaf litter, debris as haz. waste, wildlife, etc.)

7 Placement awareness cont d Ginkgo (Ginkgo biloba), a deciduous tree The oldest seed producing tree Malodorous fruit Many Ginkgo are planted on grounds or institutions throughout US/world

8 Invasive Species Concerns and Management Invasive species are those plants that grow well out of their space Can out compete other plants for resources Sometimes can be nonnative, but always obnoxious Sometimes intentionally introduced

9 Invasive Management Emerald Ash Borer has attacked Ash Trees in 27 US States. Has been here since early 2000 s Spreading locally, and by shipping containers Attacks Fraxinus sp., so if this species were used

10 Invasive-Formosan Termite Introduced from Asia Mostly found in East Coast/Gulf Coast states Eats living and dead tissue of many species Not species selective, it needs cellulose trees, homes, buildings

11 Invasive Species-Cottonwood Borers Introduced from Asia Attacks Cottonwood trees Adults eat foliage, lay eggs, and eggs develop into larvae Larvae tunnel in phloem and xylem of trees

12 Invasive Species Develop an IPM program for your site Monitor through PHC program Preventative treatment measures-chemical, mechanical, administrative, etc.

13 Do Plants Communicate How?

14 Communication cont d Diversity is the key to community success Diversification reduces risk over project life Diversity of plants = higher diversity of wildlife, work, chance for success Diversity plants, strength in root system interlock and canopy strength. *Dr. Suzanne Simard, Mother Trees trees_talk_to_each_other

15 Communication cont d Trees use soil fungi to communicate Mycorrhizae play major role in this communication Carbon, nutrients, environmental stressors are also signals of invasion

16 How can we use this knowledge at our site? Through accepted and proven Arboricultural practices to deliver microbes and fungi to a weak soil To apply macro and micro nutrients to the soil To fracture the soil and improve soil conditions

17 Ecosystem Benefit We teach school kids that trees (plants) do work: Shade + O + Heat CO 2 - Stabilize soil Aesthetics Habitat Absorb stormwater * HOW MUCH?

18

19 Ecosystem Benefits Analysis Although the primary focus is on the subsurface site issues, we should be cognizant of the above ground ecological benefit of trees and greenspaces: Absorb stormwater runoff Reduce the heat island effect Store carbon Filter air Buffer Sequester carbon Produce oxygen Improve site aesthetics Restore ecology, natural regeneration, flora and fauna

20 Individual Tree Cost/Benefit Analysis Tree Installation Cost of tree: Seedling=$1.00-$4.00 Soil= $ 5.00-$10.00/tree Container= $10.00-$ Installation= $80/hr. Annual Maintenance= $40 Benefit of a Tree (annual) 32 DBH Bald Cypress CO2 Sequestration= 788 lbs. of CO2 Stormwater = 9,000 Gallons Property Value= $88.00 Air Quality= O3, NO2, PM, SO2 Energy Savings = 260 kw/h $21.32 Total for 1-10 tall tree $ Total Benefit for 1-32 tree $210.00/yr

21 Sample Project-Summary of Findings Number of trees: 1,680 Tree cover: 40% Most common species: Live Oak (Quercus virginiana), Shumard Oak (Quercus shumardii), Crape Myrtle (Lagerstroemia indica) Percentage of trees less than 6" (15.2 cm) diameter: 10% Pollution removal: 2 tons/year ($17.2 thousand/year) Nitrogen dioxide removal is equivalent to annual nitrogen dioxide emissions from 9 automobiles Nitrogen dioxide removal is equivalent to annual nitrogen dioxide emissions from 6 single-family houses Carbon monoxide removal is equivalent to annual carbon monoxide emissions from 1 single-family house Sulfur dioxide removal is equivalent to annual sulfur dioxide emissions from 148 automobiles Sulfur dioxide removal is equivalent to annual sulfur dioxide emissions from 2 single-family houses Particulate matter less than 10 micron (PM10) removal is equivalent to annual PM10 emissions from 1,790 automobiles Particulate matter less than 10 micron (PM10) removal is equivalent to annual PM10 emissions from 173 single-family houses Carbon storage: 1,930 tons ($137 thousand) Annual carbon storage is equivalent to the annual carbon emissions from 1,160 automobiles Annual carbon storage is equivalent to annual emissions from 581 single-family houses Annual carbon storage is equivalent to amount of carbon emitted in the project area in 116,028 days Carbon sequestration: 45 tons/year ($3.21 thousand/year) Annual carbon sequestration is equivalent to amount of carbon emitted in the project area in 2,700 days Oxygen production: 115 tons/year Rainfall interception: (ft3/yr), $ 4,457/year Structural values: $1.67 million Total calculated ecological/environmental benefit: over $2 million annually

22 Realistic Goals and Aligned Expectations At the kick-off meeting, develop a list of common goals Open discussion now, eliminates closed doors later Discuss planting season, project timing, equipment needs, etc. Multi-disciplined project team discussions (peer review) Goal- at the conclusion of the project, all project expectations are met

23 Goals and Expectations The success of ecology projects are determined by the management of outdoor challenges Weather challenges Consult with your client or PM on timing issues A poorly planned ecology project leads to poor project performance, and frustrations Fight project tendencies

24 Plant Health Care-Holistic approach Pruning Fertilizing Root zone inoculation of mycorrhizae Sun/shade tolerance Irrigation- ground water/surface water availability Reduce stress IPM Program

25 System Management (O & M) How do we monitor the site for success? Does your regulator or client have demands that determine success? Hands-off, or involved? Adaptive Management Two growing seasons + to get a good picture

26 Frequency of O & M Planting season install Monitor to observe changes in health and insects Non-Planting season install- Consider over-planting Mortality will probably be higher, due to timing

27 O & M Considerations Frequent Monitoring Monthly, Quarterly Soil samples Composite sample Tissue Analysis Root, stem, leaf Groundwater Analysis Water level/moisture Root Scans Penetrometer

28 Optimize Vegetative Plantings Healthy trees offer greatest ecological return Native trees offer best opportunity for success Plan accordingly goals maturity, species, space, nutrient requirements Cultural needs & habits Site constraints and conditions Soil, ph, habit, form and shape PHC and O&M

29 To exist as a Nation, to prosper as a state, to live as a people, we must have trees. Theodore Roosevelt

30 Thank You! Questions? Scott Courtright (225)