City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/599208
www.urban-forestry.com 23 Successful street tree plantings. New tree boxes were cut at loca- tions significantly set back from the curb to minimize damage caused by activity close to the street. Thank you to those SMA members who support the Urban Forest Foundation and the annu- al conference silent auction and 50/50 raffle, all of which make the Arborist Exchange possible. (left) Trees planted near the heart of New York City. A long strip of structural soil as well as iron tree guards and good mulching prac- tice should provide for some very healthy urban trees. Through many years of doing this work, NYC Parks has developed a thorough process for reliably restoring native biodiversity and suppressing the pressure from invasive species, as demonstrated by their work at Alley Pond. Alley Pond is the second largest park in Queens and its value as an urban natural area is clear. There, just a few hundred yards from a roaring highway, I got the sense that I was outside of the city. In comparing the degraded vinelands to the areas in restoration, it was clear that the site truly was being improved and that the hope of restoring robust ecological function and biodiversity to severely impacted urban sites is more than just a dream. For the remainder of my two days in New York, NYC Parks Director of Street Tree Planting Matthew Stephens served as a gracious host and diligent imparter of knowledge and perspective. With Matthew I got the chance to tour various iterations of street tree plant- ings, take a look at some higher-dollar planting projects funded through public-private partnership, and get a peek at their data and project management processes. What stood out most with the City's street tree work was, as with their restoration work, a commitment to thorough site preparation. Tree boxes were first widened to 5 by 10 feet (1.5 by 3 m). On the day of planting, tree boxes are then completely excavated and soil is replaced with a prepared mix of sifted site soil, sand, and organic matter. High standards for nursery stock and a tree selection system that tailors species choic- es to one of eighteen urban "biotopes" helps ensure that the trees are primed for success. The process was further bolstered by a strong system of contractor management and third-party verification to ensure that standards are being maintained. Newer plantings were adorned with a durable aluminum tag used by watering contractors to verify that they have visited and watered the trees. A QR code is scanned by the contractor and watering data can be tracked back in the office in real time. The proof is in the pudding and sure enough, plantings at six-plus years old were