New study will look at best options for replanted tree survival in Burlington

How do small trees grow best in residential locations? That’s a question the City of Burlington wants to answer.

As part of the Greening the Landscape Consortium, the City is partnering with industry leaders Vineland Research Institute and Lallemand Plant Care on a three-year study to assess the beneficial effects of fungi and bacteria that are added to the soil in a granular form of transplanted young trees.

The goal is to show the improved growth and survival rates of young, planted trees with fungi and soil supplements compared to trees planted without the fungi and bacteria soil supplements.

The study will be done on Tremineer Avenue and Juniper Avenue in south-east Burlington over a three-year timeframe.

What is being added to the soil?

Mycorrhizal fungi will be added to the soil. The fungus is beneficial to the root system and is naturally found in undisturbed native (non-urban) soils.

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A naturally-occurring bacteria will be added to the soil. The bacteria helps the tree roots recover from transplant shock.

Both additives are naturally found in the soil and not harmful to plants, animals, people or the environment.

Why is this being done?

There is a common misconception that bigger trees grow faster and can survive a transplant better than smaller trees. This is not true.

Smaller trees that are transplanted recover from the stress of the transplanting better than larger trees. Smaller trees also grow faster and have a better survival rate than larger trees.

By planting trees with symbiotic organisms like bacteria and fungi, the likelihood of recovery from transplant stress is much higher, as is the likelihood of success and rapid growth.

Planting trees that will survive means the City’s forestry section will not have to return to a recently transplanted area to remove a dead tree and replace it with another. This will save time and money and will help the city grow its tree canopy more quickly.

As consortium members, Vineland Research Institute will be responsible for ongoing tracking, statistical analysis, and communication of the study findings to other consortium members; Lallemand Plant Care will be providing the beneficial bacteria product for testing; and the City of Burlington will be responsible for site and species selection as well as act as an ongoing liaison with members of the local neighbourhood.

For more information about the project, visit the city website.