Past Projects-Stone Lake Ranch III Project

Project: Stonelake Ranch III

Governmental Jurisdiction: Hillsborough County

Professional Engineer: David Bartelt, Florida Engineering

Assignment: Identify and preserve any "Grand Oak" trees located on site. Consulting Arborist, Joe Samnik partnered with the professional engineer in his efforts to design infrastructure to avoid conflict with "Grand Oak" trees.

Summary Opinion: Six (6) trees were identified as "Grand Oak" trees as defined by Hillsborough County tree codes.

With the acumen and proclivity of both the client and the professional engineer, the infrastructure was designed to preserve all subject "Grand Oak" trees.

Decision: The subject trees in the before situation of construction will not be the same trees in the after situation. Their space to grow and sustain will be significantly reduced. New spaces for sustainability must be created. The subject trees must do more with less. More resources from less soils to successfully compete with after situation site limitations.

New space for root development must go vertical. New and improved soils must be introduced and the trees must be treated with the appropriate chemicals. Finally, the tree must be protected.

The old soils under tree canopies are selectively removed by use of an air knife.

All air knifed areas are backfilled with custom blended potting soil.

The most important "chemical" that can be applied to a tree near construction is water. New potting soils must be watered in to eliminate air pockets.

Prophylactic fungicides are applied and barricades must be erected to prevent soil compaction from people and equipment. Only chain link fence will protect roots from compaction.

CONCLUSION: Tree preservation is a team effort. Whether mandated by ordinance or the desire of the developer to preserve trees as landscape amenities, a tree cannot be saved on a construction site without a professional engineer. Preservation specifications will be useless without the involvement of the site superintendent. The landscape architect must understand the biology before the design is created, and have horticultural expertise to place the right plant in the right place under the canopies.

Science, not emotions preserves trees.

For more information on this and other projects contact us.