Tree Maintenance Newly Planted Trees

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1 , LLC Benefits of Trees Best Practices for a Healthy Landscape Trees/ Shrubs/ Irrigation Leadership in Improving Outdoor Environments Environmental Benefits of Trees Reduce surface water run off Reduce soil erosion Absorb air pollutants Sequester carbon Reduce noise pollution Cools as evapotranspiration Provide habitat for urban wildlife Economic Benefits of Trees Increases property values 3 20% Serve as wind barriers reduce heating costs in the winter Decrease energy consumption 25% throughout the year Help keep homes/buildings cool in the summer by providing shade Newly Planted Trees 19% of newly planted trees die within the first 2 years 56% of newly planted tree mortality is due to: Lack of Water Wt Nutrient stress 1

2 , LLC Newly Planted Trees Urban Tree Mortality Water and nutrient stress (56%) Vandalism (18%) Tree guard girdling idli (12%) Soil compaction (9%) Improper staking and tying techniques (mechanical injury) (5%) Typical Tree Root System Typical Water and Nutrient Needs Water Deeper and less frequent watering can encourage healthier root growth Applied to the root ball with 5 10 gallons of water for each caliper inch of tree, per watering Lack of water can greatly impact the nutrient supply to a healthy tree thus accelerating stress Stress from Water and Nutrient Deficiencies Reduced root elongation growth Reduced radial growth Leaf loss or browning Shallow rooting Stunted whole tree form Fewer mycorrhizae fungi important component of soil life and soil chemistry Greater susceptibility to insect and disease damage Reduced stem, trunk and root growth Increases likelihood of sudden death Signs may not be immediately evident Damage often appears late in the growing season or even in subsequent years 2

3 , LLC Winter No spring/summer leafing; indication of stress Susceptible to damage in the dry winter months Affected plants may appear perfectly normal and resume growth in the spring using stored food energy Winter How much water do trees need? As a general rule, 5 10 gallons of water is needed for each diameter inch of the tree (per watering) AVERAGE: 10 snowfall equals 1 of water Example: 20 diameter tree Needs ~600 gallons of water Oct to April 600 gallons = 54.5 of average snowfall Average snowfall in Denver is 57.5 Winter How do different trees respond to water stress? Evergreen trees High risk from winter conditions Require more water in winter than deciduous trees They retain their needles and can lose water all winter long Winter winds can compound the problem by pulling water from the needles 3

4 , LLC Winter Deciduous trees Root systems continue to slowly grow in dormant season. Shallow rooted species most at risk Maples, lindens, birches and any recently planted tree Damage won t show up until the following spring What Tree is Right for your Environment? Recommended Trees for Wet Soils Recommended Trees for Dry Soils Birch Alder Oaks (some species) Maples (some species) Willows Boxelder Catapla Kentucky Coffee Golden Rain Bur Oak Boxelder Catapla Alder Birch Kentucky Coffee Recommended Trees for Shade Areas Redbud Heritage Elm Autumn Blaze Maple Flowering Redbud Tree Autumn Blaze Maple (in fall) Recommended Trees for Roadways Pears Locust Columnar Oaks English or White Oaks Hawthorne Black Locust Bradford Pear 4

5 , LLC Emerald Ash Borer What about Plants and Shrubs? Winter Landscape Maintenance How do plants respond to water stress? Particularly susceptible in dry winter months Newly planted shrub 5 gallons (two times month) Small established shrubs (less than 3 feet tall) 5 gallons month Large established shrubs (more than 6 feet) 18 gallons month Irrigation Basics Examples of Poor Performance Stretched Spacing Improper design, low distribution uniformity Rotors at 100% plus spacing not head to head 5

6 , LLC Poor Spacing/Outdated Technology/Low Water Pressure Irrigation Overspray Runoff, Over-Scheduling Donuts No close-in watering, poor distribution uniformity Applying the water to saturation point High Pressure Wind Intrusion Bad Installation Waste and poor coverage due to drift & evaporation High trajectory water drift and poor distribution uniformity Low Head Drainage Design & Product Selection Water waste, potential liability Pavement wetting & degradation - may lead to liability 6

7 , LLC Benefits of Landscape Water Conservation Reduced water cost/use Eliminate potential liability Improved curb appeal Upgrade rebates Reduction in fertilizer use Improved site sustainability Water Conservation Solutions Irrigation system audits and upgrades Turfgrass removal Drip system renovations Smart sprinkler control technology Native and drought tolerant plant conversion 2016 Denver Water Rebates Tools for Water Conservation Smart ET control Drip Irrigation Rotating Nozzles Turfgrass Elimination Pressure Regulation Smart control Water efficient sprinkler nozzles Success Stories Pressure regulation Drip conversion Arapahoe Lake HOA $18,000 initial investment in 2010 This investment was used to install ET Water controllers and renovations to the irrigation system (heads and drip conversion) Initial investment was recuperated in less than 1 year! Total savings $106, Water Savings by year in Gallons 2010: 2,516, : 1,861, : 1,743, : 2,703, : 2,633, Water Savings/ Denver Water Rebate 2010: $25, : $17, : $17, : $26, : $19,

8 , LLC Cost Comparisons Systematic approach is critical to maximize water savings Smart Control ~ $1,500 $10,000 per location Water Savings: 25 35% Drip Irrigation ~ $500 per zone Water Savings: 20 40% Cost Comparisons Pressure Regulation ~ $100 per zone Water Savings: 5 20% Efficient Sprinkler Nozzles ~ $100 per zone Water Savings: 5 20% Turfgrass conversion ~ $3.00 per square foot Water Savings: 50 75% Questions? 8