|
|
Community Tree Buying
| Community Tree Buying Program |
 Every year, CCE organizes a bulk order of bare root trees for municipalities, schools, and a host of local organizations and agencies. A main goal of the program is to encourage and enable these groups to plant trees throughout Onondaga County in a cooperative and cost-effective way. Ornamental and shade trees, 1 1/2 inch to 2 inch caliper, are a suitable size for street tree planting.
Why Plant Bare Root Trees?
Bare-root trees are large trees that come shipped without the soil around the roots. Because of this, they are less expensive to purchase and transport than traditional balled and burlap trees. Bare-root trees are also substantially lighter, which allows volunteers and municipal staff to plant them without heavy equipment.
| Municipalities save up to $250 per tree by planting bare root trees |
Community involvement in tree planting is critical because once volunteers plant trees - especially in their own neighborhood - they become vested in the trees' survival. The savings for using bare-root trees and volunteers can be as much as $250 per tree if you factor in the cost of the tree, its transport and the cost of hiring a contractor to plant it.
What are the Disadvantages?
 Because the roots of bare root trees are exposed, they can only be planted when the tree is dormant and soil is not frozen (early November or late winter/early spring). Planting time is most predictable in the Fall, after leaf drop. Planting weather is somewhat unpredictable.
In addition, communities must plan more carefully. To protect the tree roots from drying out, they are dipped in a thick slurry of hydrogel. However, this gel will only provide protection for roughly 7 - 10 days and only if the root system in bagged tightly in heavy duty plastic bags.
Communities must be ready to plant, once the trees arrive. In contrast, balled in burlap trees can remain unplanted much longer if watered. In addition, bare-root trees greater than 1.5 inches in diameter do not transplant well.
The diversity of species that can be successfully planted using the bare-root method is limited. Balled in burlap and containerized trees must also be used for a fully diverse and healthy urban forest.
For ordering information or more information about the Community Tree Buying Program contact:
Call: (315) 424-9485.x 232
E-mail: FML7@cornell.edu
|
Bare-root planting is nothing new but the process developed to extend bare-root planting to large trees was pioneered at the Urban Horticulture Institute (pdf 669 KB)
2007 Tree Planting at a Glance
How to Plant a Bare Root Tree
Follow-Up Care
Pruning Young Trees
Volunteer Opportunities
|
|
|
|
4-H Youth Development