A Simple Planting Technique for Re-establishing Trees Where Frequent Inundation Occurs

Summary

This protocol describes a simple, cost-effective tree planting technique for restoring degraded Everglades tree islands that experience inundation. The design creates an island (pop-up) which floats initially and adds elevation to promote tree survival and growth under flooded conditions.

Abstract

Many of the Everglades tree islands have lost elevation over the past century and most of their trees have died such that they are now covered with herbaceous plants. This protocol describes a simple, cost-effective tree planting technique needed for restoring degraded Everglade tree islands. The design is patterned after a natural Everglades process that creates floating peat islands, which allows tree survival and growth in flooded conditions and often leads to the development of tree islands. Commercially available peat bags were used as the medium for the growth and establishment of potted native tree saplings. The pop-up configuration floated initially and provided additional elevation to minimize inundation, with a single native tree species sapling and a single tree fertilizer spike. During a 3 year study involving 105 pop-ups, most plants survived (80%) and many thrived. Determining whether this technique can establish trees on a degraded tree island will require longer studies and extensive field tests.

Introduction

Natural recolonization of degraded Everglade tree islands by native tree species is possible through seed dispersal if there are nearby islands with a diversity of tree species^1,2. According to Sklar and van der Valk¹ restoring severely subsided tree islands may be possible, "by raising the elevation of their heads, although such efforts would be expensive and labor intensive." Currently, there are very few native (desirable) trees present near the degraded (also known as "ghost") tree islands in Everglades Water Conservation Area (WCA)-2A (one of five WCAs created to st....

Protocol

1. Preparation and Transportation to Planting Location

1. Obtain 2 or 3 gal (7 or 11 L) saplings of locally grown native trees (in plastic pots), commercial peat bags (measuring 0.3 x 0.46 x 0.6 m³), tree and shrub fertilizer spikes, duct tape, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe (2 to 3 m length, 0.8 in (2.1 cm) diameter, schedule 40), box cutter, trash bags, and a metal rod or rebar (1 to 2 m in length, 1.3 cm diameter) to puncture the peat bags. Potential tree species applicable to the Everglades are Annona glabra, Ficus aurea, and Acer rubrum. Wearing work gloves is highly recommended.
2. Determine the best location ....

Results

The study using this technique⁴ was conducted within a 0.32 km² Everglades physical model¹¹, on a ridge to simulate testing on a ghost tree island. During this study, two bag orientations for height (low: 0.3 m, high: 0.46 m), with one versus two saplings per bag growing, were tested as well as the use of tree fertilizer spikes to promote survival and growth. Three species of saplings were used: A. glabra, F. aurea,

Discussion

This proposed approach to replanting tree islands allows the increase in elevation and deployment of trees from an airboat without the building of roads required to bring fill to each site. This minimizes the cost and disturbance of implementing tree island plantings.

An issue with this technique is the aesthetic and environmental problems associated with putting a large quantity of PVC pipe, plastic bags, and plastic pots on a marsh feature that was once a tree island. The current approach is.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
One or Two Gallon Native Tree Saplings in plastic pots.	Local Native Plant Nurseries	N/A	Obtain native tree saplings grown from locally obtained seed
Commercial Peat Bags. 5 cubic ft.	Lambert	Lambert Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss (6649801115)	Product description: Lambert peat moss is an excellent soil amendment because of its capacity to retain water, aerate the soil and it is completely natural. All of Lambert's peat moss packages carry the OMRI (Organic Material Review Institute) logo, which indicates that they are approved for use in organic production. Size: 5.5 cu.ft.
Vigoro Tree Spikes (Tree and Shrub Fertilizer Spikes, 15-Count)	Vigoro, Swiss Farms Products Inc.	Model # 154205	GUARANTEED ANALYSIS (%) TOTAL IN PRODUCT (ppm): Total Nitrogen (N) 12.0000; Available Phosphoric Acid (P2O5) 5.0000; Soluble Potash (K2O) 7.0000
PVC Pipe: 1/2 in schedule 40	JM Eagle	Model # 67447	Any manufacturer or supplier will do.
Duct Tape, 1-7/8 in x 12 yds	MSC Industrial Supply	Gorilla Heavy-Duty Duct Tape, Model # 60012	Any manufacturer or supplier will do.
Metal Rod (Rebar 1.3 cm diameter, 1.2 m long)	Weyerhaeuser	Model # 35616	Any manufacturer or supplier will do.
Box Cutter	Stanley	Model # STHT10273	Any manufacturer or supplier will do.
Work Gloves	Firm Grip	Model # 3101-96	Any manufacturer or supplier will do.
Trash Bags (42 gallon)	HUSKY	Model # HK42WC050B	Any manufacturer or supplier will do.