Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 37(5): September 2011 Arboriculture & Urban Forestry 2011. 37(5): 219–225 219 Effects of Tree Stabilization Systems on Tree Health and Implications for Planting Specifications Kendra J. Labrosse, Robert C. Corry, and Youbin Zheng Abstract. A tree stabilization system (TSS) is specified to promote stability and maintain tree posture at transplant. However, staking and guy- ing can compromise tree health. The authors of the current study have investigated the effects of such stabilization systems on trees to in- form urban forest planting specifications. Visual symptoms for tree health were recorded for 488 trees with and without TSSs in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Results showing symptoms of stunted growth, death, and pest/disease were fewer on trees observed with TSSs. Health was nega- tively impacted by TSSs by producing more symptoms of girdled trunks, swelling, and wilting. Trees planted on public land were found to ben- efit from being stabilized while trees on private land expressed more negative health effects when observed with trunk support. Implications for ur- ban forest professionals include limiting tree stabilization practice to site conditions where their use is warranted along with timely removal. Key Words. Guying; Staking; Transplant; Trunk Support; Urban Forest. The urban forest includes street trees, park trees, greenspaces, residential land, and public and private spaces with vegetation (Moll 1995). In cities, the forest improves environmental con- ditions, supports important social functions, and increases the economic value of the community (Bradley 1995). Trees with the greatest value to the urban forest are those that are mature, strong, and healthy. Tree health and longevity can be compro- mised in many ways, including by common transplant practices. One widely used practice is the use of a tree stabilization system (TSS), such as trunk staking, guying, or root ball anchoring. Sta- bilization systems are purported to improve root establishment, but can also negatively affect tree health (Johnson 1997; Costello et al. 2003; Appleton et al. 2008). Harmful effects range from reduced caliper and trunk taper to trunk deformities to death. In landscape settings, TSSs are often used during transplant to anchor trees, help establish root system development, provide trunk support, and protect trees from mechanical damage, such as landscaping equipment and vandalism (Patch 1987; Appleton et al. 2008; Eckstein and Gilman 2008; Alvey et al. 2009). The three most common types of TSS are staking, root ball anchoring, and guying (Figure 1). Staking often includes the use of one or two wooden or metal stakes driven into the ground next to the root ball and attached to the trunk with a tether (Figure 1a). Guying involves the use of three or four guylines that are anchored to the ground at an angle and secured by small stakes (Figure 1b) (Lilly 2001). Root ball anchoring is a belowground meth- od of securing the root ball of the tree (Figure 1c). All methods can be fash- ioned from an assortment of materials. Research on tree growth and de- Figure 1. Common tree stabilization systems: a) staking, b) guying, and c) root ball anchoring. Drawing courtesy of K. Labrosse. velopment has been a main focus of study when it comes to TSSs. Stud- ies have compared the effects of dif- ferent proprietary TSS products to determine which pose fewer negative effects on the growth and develop- ment of trees. Research conducted by Svihra et al. (1999), for example, compared three aboveground stabi- lization products by observing tree growth over a two-year period. One year after transplant, the system that allowed for the greatest trunk move- ©2011 International Society of Arboriculture
September 2011
| Title Name |
Pages |
Delete |
Url |
| Empty |
Ai generated response may be inaccurate.
Search Text Block
Page #page_num
#doc_title
Hi $receivername|$receiveremail,
$sendername|$senderemail wrote these comments for you:
$message
$sendername|$senderemail would like for you to view the following digital edition.
Please click on the page below to be directed to the digital edition:
$thumbnail$pagenum
$link$pagenum
Your form submission was a success.
Downloading PDF
Generating your PDF, please wait...
This process might take longer please wait
