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Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/41336
the fact that a mature tree could be relocated and not only survive for just a few years but actually thrive for decades. The old timers in my field who had been mov- ing trees for years taught me the basics. I have been involved with large tree and palm relocation since the mid-1970s. I was always awed by My first experience moving large trees on my own was in 1989 when I planned and supervised the relocation of 15 very large Phoenix palms (Phoenix reclinata). It was a very interesting and stressful experience. The area where they were going to be planted had originally been the site of a very large stand of beach oaks (Casuarina equisetifo- lia) that I had cut down to stumps the previous month. We had been seamlessly moving and replanting the Phoenix palms with a 50-ton crane until we took one of the largest palms off a flatbed trailer next to a prepared planting hole. As the palm was being lifted, one of the crane's outriggers broke through the underlying substrate. This area is mostly solid oolitic limestone that can go down at least 16 feet (5 meters). Usually this rock is very hard and stable—but the exact spot where the outrigger sat apparently was over a small cavity, and the combined weight of the crane and palm caused the rock to give way. It is fortunate that the palm had only been a few feet off the trailer so the weight was released as the palm hit the trailer when the side of the crane dropped. We were able to relocate the crane and re- rig and eventually the palm was planted. The trailer had two broken axles. This experience taught me early on that there are many factors to consider when relocating trees. An intimate knowledge of the tree species, its root system, the sub- strate, proper rigging, root pruning and ultimately proper maintenance are some of the things to consider when moving mature trees. Some of the tropical trees that I have worked with always ended up moving with bare roots. The soil falls off before we can wrap the root ball, yet these trees consistently survive the relocation. Since the first relocation of the Phoenix palms, which are growing well two decades later, I have successfully moved dozens of species of trees and palms. I have learned to be patient and to think the process through. I have also come to the realization that proper pre- and The Santa Monica, California tree crew transplants a Canary Island date palm (Phoenix canariensis) in the 1950s using a "hydrocrane." Photo Courtesy of City of Santa Monica www.urban-forestry.com 15