Comprehensive Site Assessment Procedures for Healthy Plant Growth

1. Site Assessment Prepared by Cornell Cooperative Extension and Cornell’s Urban Horticulture Institute for the NYS Department of Conservation and FEMA

2. The Planting Process Plant Selection Transplanting Techniques Site Assessment Site Modification

3. Course Overview • Core Curriculum • Workshops to develop assessment skills • Tours to hone site assessment skills • Role-playing scenarios • Case studies • Take-home reference resources

4. Site Assessment A methodical inspection of a site in order to learn more about the site’s ability to support healthy plant growth.

7. Site Assessment: an important managment tool • Enhances your professional status • Improves customer satisfaction • Enhances your profitability • lowers replacement costs • maximizes worker productivity

8. Case Study Planting Costs: $10,000 Replacement Budget: $2,500 Replace 20 Sugar Maples 20 x $200 = $4,000 Replacement budget -$2,500 Loss on the job ??????? Alternative: site assessment notes difficult growing conditions and plant selection is changed to use a more site-tolerant species

9. Benefits of Site Assessment • Instills positive image about the professionalism of your services • Increases profits • Increases customer satisfaction • Thriving plantings reflect well on your company and industry as a whole

10. Basic Requirements for Plant Growth Oxygen Water Light Minerals Carbon Dioxide Appropriate Temperatures

11. Roots--General Morphology • Roots extend 2.5-3 times the crown radius • Most roots (>60%) located outside the drip line • Tap roots rarely present in mature trees • Water and nutrients absorbed by root hairs • Root hairs primarily located in top 6” of soil • >95% of roots are found in the top 3’ of soil

12. Root Functions • Absorb water and nutrients • Provide stability • Synthesize plant hormones • Store energy produced by plant

13. Shoot Functions • Photosynthesis • Transport sugars from source to sink • Synthesizes plant hormones

14. Summary of Plant Structure and Functions • All plants have certain basic requirements for healthy plant growth • Different species will be differently able to tolerate different growing conditions • Most tree roots are located in the top 18” of soil and extend 2-3 times the crown radius

15. Factors to Consider • Climate and Microclimate • Structural factors limiting canopy and rooting space • Soil Factors • Existing vegetation • Design factors • Legal factors

16. Climate • USDA Hardiness Zone • Precipitation 7a 6b 6a 5b 5a 4b 4a 3b

17. Microclimate: Site Specific • Sunlight • Rereflected heat • Wind • Frost Pockets

22. Rereflected Heat Increases temperature Decreases humidity Increases water stress

24. Structural Factors Limiting Canopy and Rooting Space • Above Ground • Determine amount of canopy space available • Note location and height of overhead wires • Below Ground • Call UFPO to locate underground utilities • Buried debris may alter soil characteristics and limit rooting space

29. Soil Factors • Soil Texture • Soil pH • Soil Compaction • Soil Disturbance • Effective Rooting Depth and Volume • Drainage and Aeration • Topography • Soil Cover • Soil Contaminants

30. Soil Texture Amount of Sand, Silt and Clay in a Soil 0 100 Percent Clay Percent Silt Clay Sandy clay Silty clay Silty clay loam Clay loam Sandy clay loam Loamy sand Loam Sandy loam Sand Silt loam 100 0 Silt 100 0 Percent Sand

32. Properties of Soils of Different Textures Soil Texture Sand Loam Clay Susceptibility to Compaction limited moderate high Nutrient Holding limited moderate high Capacity to high Available Water 7% 16% 11% (% of volume) Infiltration Rate high moderate low

35. Growth Increment

36. Soil Structure Good Structure Poor Structure Macropores Macropores Micropores Micropores Soil Particles Soil Particles

38. Effects of Compaction on Soil • Soil structure is destroyed • Soil drains slowly and is often anaerobic • Compacted soil physically impedes root growth and results in the containerization of roots

42. Soil Compaction and Construction • Soil structure is slow to form, but quick to destroy • The first pass of heavy machinery causes the most damage • Plan ahead to preserve soil structure

44. How Much Soil Does a Tree Need? 2 cubic feet of soil for every 1 square foot of crown projection Crown projection

47. Salt Injury to Plants • Excessive salt levels in the soil • Limits water and nutrient uptake by roots • Increases likelihood of soil compaction • Chloride accumulates in toxic levels in plant and leads to marginal leaf scorch • Salt spray damage • Buds and tips of plant have greater likelihood of freeze damage

50. Analyzing Existing Vegetation • Identify plant species • Note any indications of plant stress • Determine annual growth increment of existing trees • Check for salt injury • Look for mechanical damage • Note presence of any noxious weeds