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Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/41336
The soil around the tree was graded and suitable high quality bark mulch was applied out as far as the tree's drip-line. The disturbed area beyond the drip-line was hydro-seeded for aesthetic purposes. Following instal- lation, the tree was treated with a foliar spray consist- ing of a mixture of humic acid, kelp-based fertilizer, a metabolism stabilizer, and a non-ionic sticker to keep the mixture on the leaves. The tree continues to be watered generously a minimum of once per week, receiving more water during hot spells. I have high hopes for the long-term survival of this specimen, as it has been my experience that willows are a very durable tree that will withstand considerable amounts of disturbance. Given that Surrey is part of the Pacific Northwest rain forest, where pretty much everything will grow in our temperate Zone 8b climate, we fully expect this tree to provide shade for the com- munity's dogs for years to come. —Steve Whitton, Manager, Trees and Landscapes, Building Division, Surrey, British Columbia for the development of a new community center and park. The existing site included a 15-acre (6 ha) mature bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa) woodland, natural pond with creek, and open, rolling grass- land. There, 36 large bur oak trees, 20 to 36 inches (51 to 94 cm) in diameter, were in the path of a proposed entrance road. One in particular, an open- grown bur oak 27 inch (69 cm) in diameter, was a cherished specimen. In 1999 the City of Eagan, Minnesota Setting the crane cables (above) and setting up the base for the truck ride (below) for the willow tree (Salix babylonica) move in Surrey, British Columbia. Photos by Steve Whitton Moving the proposed road to a new location, and there- by avoiding tree removal, was not possible. However, through working cooperatively with staff from Eagan's Engineering Department, the new road alignment (inter- section angle and road curvature) was shifted to pre- serve many of the trees that had been jeopardized. Unfortunately, the 27 inch specimen bur oak tree was still in the path of the proposed road and was sched- uled to be removed. With that in mind, I began researching the possibility of transplanting. Was the tree healthy enough to with- stand a major transplant? Was it physically possible to move such a large tree? Who could perform such a project, how would this project be funded, and what follow-up management would be required to ensure tree survival? As it turned out all these questions had positive answers, leading to the initiation of a highly successful and unique (to our area) Grandfather Tree preservation project. To determine the health of the Grandfather Tree (GFT), a local private company, Rainbow Treecare, volunteered to conduct starch tests. That test had positive results, www.urban-forestry.com 21 purchased 120 acres (48.6 ha) of land in the city