I have a client managing a devopment that is about 6y/o.

The problems are typical of mass plantings; too deep, over mulched, small hole, wrong plants.

The heaviest hit are 2-4in dia. red & sugar maples planted in alkiline clay with topsoil stripped.

The board wants to try and keep some, will vert mulch, fert, water help ones with minimal early leaf drop and no major dieback?

Or does the siting sound so bad that they should give up on these spiecies?

Reply to post by JOHN S, on September 07, 1999 at 20:43:35:

The siting doesn't sound too good for most things you might want to plant there. Why not give them some options, and let them decide?

1) Live with what they have, and hope for the beswt. Give regular care (water, fert, prune, etc.)

2) Replace with more suitable species, either all at once or as these trees fail. Modify conditions as needed.

3) Modify in place. See the threads here on trenching and verticle mulching. I suggest for the smaller trees that radial trenching might be the best option. It can be done with a small backhoe, a trenching machine, or an air spade. Then of course, mulch the whole area around the trees properly.

Reply to post by Russ Carlson, on September 07, 1999 at 20:43:35:

looks like I'm on the right track, I did a walk&talk with our client and the board pres. suggested removal of worst, remedial measures of those deemed aestheticly saveable, replace with a max caliper of 2in more hardy types group plantings of Silver Maple and slower growing more desireable plants. Vert mulch, fall fert, watering programs.

Tried to get Bob's sausage looked at. What's the web page for the patent Bob? And what are you looking for if used comercialy on a small scale?

And of corse re-do the much mounds that are piled up from the previouse primary contractor and plant using Best Practices.

thanks

Reply to post by JohnS, on September 07, 1999 at 21:51:54:

I tried this post yesterday and it disappeared into the ether twice.

If as Russ suggests a small excavator is brought in, I might remove all the bad material around the trees from original ball dia. out to extent of budget and replace with good soil rather than just vertical mulch. This assumes of course that there has been little or no root growth beyond original ball. Adjust according ly. Done with 2" materal even if the existing 2" needs to be replaced later it's not that expensive to buy and you've got a pre-prepared planting site. I'd be more cautious with the 4" material as they'd be more expensive to replace.

You might find that complete replacement of x area improves a greater soil volume for the same budget than v.m.

Reply to post by JOHN S, on September 07, 1999 at 20:43:35:

You could get some laborers and dig trenches by hand that connect the trees, or if they are widely separated, dig radial trenches with drainage in mind. Backfill with sandy loam.

Reply to post by Peter Torres, on September 07, 1999 at 20:43:35:

I an concidering, recomending that they do something like that and as Scott suggests...Hand dig to determin extent of woody roots, then excivate with the clients skid beyond that point to amend/replace soil to budgetary limit. The ground is high with verying degree of slope so drainage won't be an issue. Money does not to be a primary limiting factor either, maybe lower than terciary.