400 trees / inspect & prep

[mdvaden]

Just got an interesting piece of work. To prepare 400, already planted trees, for bark mulch. Actually, it started with a consultation. And the landscape person who planted them, did not cut the twine on most, planted a few in root (containment) bags, and left some staked too long.

Found at least 2 dozen with synthetic twine starting to embed, others with twine that could decay by wrapped enough times to restrict a year's growth, plus lots of ties indenting trunks.

The root bags left on the fruit trees had to be removed too. An entire year's worth of establishment lost. The lion's share of the trees are 6' to 10' evergreen trees, including Incense Cedars.

Recommended a 6' circle of bark mulch for each tree. So it will take 15 "units" to cover 12,000 square feet of combined area just for the circles. Some are around the residence, others line the road. Big place.

 

[mdvaden]

There's a few deciduous trees too, and Italian Cypress around the house (a helper in the pic)

 

[JeffL]

Was the twine on the lower trunks remnants of the burlap/bag ties, or did the evergreens come tied up, and they missed removing the twine when they cut the branches free of the twine?

Fun job, what are you doing the edging /sod removal with? All hand work?

 

[mdvaden]

[ QUOTE ]
Was the twine on the lower trunks remnants of the burlap/bag ties, or did the evergreens come tied up, and they missed removing the twine when they cut the branches free of the twine?

Fun job, what are you doing the edging /sod removal with? All hand work?

[/ QUOTE ]

On this one, I don't have lawn edging, but just checking each tree.

The twine left on, was from what held the burlap around the root ball.

The landscaper left virtually all of them on around the trunks. I found a few by the road side, where the indentations in the trunk were so deep, like 2 inches, that there had to have been other twine left on years before the landcaper got the trees, then with a "second generation" wrap of twine. In other words, the tree was balled twice, with synthetic twine neglected twice.

 

[treegazer]

Any chance, ever a glimmer of hope, that the landscaper could be enlightened enough to hear and see that what he/she did was a horticultural failure and understand the impact of the work they do could positively benefit future generations.

What other professions exist where the professional knows next to nothing about their practice?

It is great that your client listens to you and has resources and where with all to address the problem and get their landscape off to a good start. It sucks that it wasn't done right the first time.

It will make a great case study and teaching opportunity.

What are you excavating them with?

 

[theXman]

Is the home owner going after the landscaper for compensation I hope?

I think many landscapers do this crap because no one seems to go after them.

 

[mdvaden]

[ QUOTE ]
Any chance, ever a glimmer of hope, that the landscaper could be enlightened enough to hear and see that what he/she did was a horticultural failure and understand the impact of the work they do could positively benefit future generations.

What other professions exist where the professional knows next to nothing about their practice?

....


What are you excavating them with?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi.

So far, for the few that needed replanting, just a shovel, as those in bags were not really big.

RE "glimmer of hope" ... it was emailed to me from the homeowner, that the landscape person, after being sent some of these photos, and posed with a question "how" or "why", on their own accord offered to pay for my entire fee.

Not sure if it's an act of self-preservation or recognition of need to improve, but it may be a glimmer of hope. Won't state here what my fee was, but it does cover much of about 3 full 8 hour days, with a helper on 2 of those days.

The good news, is that the majority of the 400 trees were not like the first photo with the big indentation. Some were that bad, but we saved a generous number from getting that way.

Personally, I think the mulch that will be blown on in about a week, will be one of the most significant aspects of all. Around here, I find that even with irrigation, mulching is often the make-or-break aspect for tree survival.

..

 

[Rocks_and_Trees]

Just curious, why bark mulch and not some other form of composted mulch?

 

[mdvaden]

[ QUOTE ]
Just curious, why bark mulch and not some other form of composted mulch?

[/ QUOTE ]

Could be another.

Straw is flammable. Not good under conifers.

Garden composts are typically fine, and in short time, form a crust that repels water

Cedar chips blow away, and this place is really windy.

Bark is my preference, especially the medium because it's coarse enough to avoid forming a crust, very affordable, and I've seen how much it improves soil after about 10 to 15 years of slow decay.

But I'm sure other stuff could work, like crushed nut shells, etc..

 

[Adkpk]

[ QUOTE ]
Any chance, ever a glimmer of hope, that the landscaper could be enlightened enough to hear and see that what he/she did was a horticultural failure and understand the impact of the work they do could positively benefit future generations.



[/ QUOTE ]


I am one landscaper that has learned from membering up with the ISA. So there is some hope.

 

[mdvaden]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Any chance, ever a glimmer of hope, that the landscaper could be enlightened enough to hear and see that what he/she did was a horticultural failure and understand the impact of the work they do could positively benefit future generations.



[/ QUOTE ]


I am one landscaper that has learned from membering up with the ISA. So there is some hope.

[/ QUOTE ]

The local community college here has an arborist teaching several tree care classes. Even knots and some climbing aspects. And that's part of the landscape tech program.

...

 

[Bucknut]

[ QUOTE ]
What other professions exist where the professional knows next to nothing about their practice?

[/ QUOTE ]


Ummmm....... Politicians?

 

[mdvaden]

Bark finally blown on. 2 days, about 120 cubic yards.

The shrub beds, level and sloped, were not mulched previously either.

Pretty nice watching the Flowering Cherry petals fall like flakes now.

...

 

[mdvaden]

And a few more of the 400 toward the east side along the north edge.

 

[jomoco]

Your pictures are outstanding in their contrast and clarity Mario..as usual.

Thanks for posting them.

jomoco

 

[guymayor]

flowers match house color, cute.

ridin gmower cuts around those little circles?

that landscape will really be something in 10-20 years!

 

[mdvaden]

[ QUOTE ]
flowers match house color, cute.

ridin gmower cuts around those little circles?

that landscape will really be something in 10-20 years!

[/ QUOTE ]

Some of the nicest trees were some type of Elm that's just getting leaves.

The landscaper who planted the other trees (twine left on) did not plant the Elms. But a company Big Trees Today in the Portland metro area.

Did just the slightest amount of pruning on them. Barely two minutes per tree. Seems they will be gorgeous in time. Shown bare in one of the earlier pics. New green leaves showing here.

 

[mdvaden]

Also ...

When I started a couple of weeks ago, there were about eight 18 inch Ribes sanguineum shrubs, planted like 4' apart in a row just a couple feet from the lawn. Behind my back as taking the photo above facing the house.

So I bought some nice nearly 36" tall Ribes, planted those, and replanted the small ones, so it will become like a 10 foot tall Ribes sanguineum grove. So there's about 15 in this grouping.

This would be pretty nice to see in about 10 to 15 years. I planted the same size here about 2 years ago, an mine reached 5' to 7' already. They should start to touch in about 12 year I think. Will probably cull the grass in this one spot and bark mulch the whole patch.

 

[mdvaden]

This view from inside one of the dining areas gives some idea of distance.

Left window are trees along edge of field shown in earlier photo.

The center and right window show specks of trees to the East and SE corner.

The center of the field is mostly open with several raptor perches.

 

[RyanCafferky]

Is that up off of Skyline or in the Helvetia area? Looks like a dive to me. I'll stick to living in less than 300 square feet...