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Getting a Little Help from City Parks Team
The City’s operations crews will implement a health enhancement initiative for three notable trees in the Parksville Community Park. Two trees are near the beach washroom area - a big leaf maple to the north, surrounded by a circular concrete bed, and an oak tree adjacent to the food truck pads. The third tree is an Antarctic Beech located in the arboretum in the park. The three trees will receive a specialized fertilizer treatment designed to boost vitality and enhance resistance to disease and environmental stress, like a flu shot for trees.
The Antarctic Beech will also undergo a root zone revitalization using an air-spade to cultivate the soil within a six-foot radius and to a depth of six to eight inches. This process improves soil structure, promotes root development, and incorporates organic matter and Biochar to enrich the growing environment. Given the rarity of this species in our region and the potential presence of root phytophthora, this intervention offers the best opportunity to preserve the health of the trees.
The City is committed to monitoring the urban forest and applying treatments based on service levels, budget considerations and the specific needs of each tree.
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