Improving the surrounding substratum

Premium material and adequate substratum improves survivability

Substratum is the term given to the underground areas surrounding the immediate trench dug for the planting of the tree. Inadequate tree planting practices often result in trees with severely restricted growth, shorter life spans and of course the death of the tree. With the cost of re-planting significant, especially in a large landscape development, are there ways of increasing survivability?

Buying premium stock incorporating best practice growing methodologies is vitally important and will provide the installer with the best chance of survival. Couple premium material with improved soil conditions and sufficient underground space to accomodate the biological needs of the tree's optimum root volume, and rates increase again significantly.

A good introduction to improving planting practices has been provided by Richard Magill of Magill & Associates inconjunction with Simon Leake of SESL Australia in a paper called Quality Soils for Healthy Trees. You will find it here.