June 2023

Current Research at Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories:

Soil Volume Plot (Urban Plaza)

Sean Henry

Research Arborist, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories

At the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratory, there is an area of the 350-acre Arboretum called the Urban Plaza which simulates an urban tree environment. There are a series of retired and active experiments going on in the plaza with the latest being the Soil Volume Plot. This plot was devised by Dr. Tom Smiley, to test some theories concerning the ideal volume of soil for an urban tree planting pit. 

We designed this two-part experiment as a demo plot, having nine separate treatments plus an open grown control, replicated three times for a total of 30 trees. We chose Tulip Poplar as the test subject. While not the typical street tree, this species, with its rapid growth, can provide results on a quicker timeline. Wooden boxes were constructed for each tree in varying dimensions. Each box was wrapped in heavy duty geotextile fabric to prevent root escape then lowered into an excavated trench and backfilled with soil. Part one of the experiment trials different soil volumes, with each box having a fixed opening of approximately 16 square feet and ranging in depth from one foot to five feet. 

Part two has boxes of various dimensions but using the same soil volume of 80 cubic feet. All trees receive the same fertilizer and irrigation regiment and were close to identical size at planting. Data, such as chlorophyl fluorimeter readings, height, caliper, and health rating are collected monthly during the growing season. We are monitoring the plot for differences in tree growth and health in relation to the amount of soil available to their roots. This experiment was launched in 2019 with an intended harvest date of 2029.

Get on your bike this summer and support TREE Fund

Would you like to get outside more this summer and support TREE Fund at the same time?

Registration for our new TdT 350/350 Challenge is still available and it is FREE to sign-up!

All you need to do is register, create a fundraising page, ride 350 miles before August 30, and fundraise $350. If you can do all that, you receive a custom cycling shirt as a gift for your support and your grit.

For more information, go to www.treefund.org/virtual-ride-option.

WAIT... That's not all!

There is still time to register for this year's Tour des Trees! We have about 20 slots still available and registration is open until July 31.

Don't miss out on a great opportunity to ride with us around the Lake Tahoe and northern California areas this fall, from September 26 to October 2. We have a beautiful route, some very fun and informative activities planned, and, of course, you have a chance to ride with some of the best tree-lovers there are!

For more information and to register, visit www.treefund.org/tourdestrees.

Lead Donors

We are deeply grateful to the following people and organizations who contributed $2,500 or more to the TREE Fund in May 2023:

Vermeer Corporation

ISA Southern Chapter

Tom Grant

See the full list of lead donors who make our vital tree research and education work possible on our website.

2022 Annual Report

At the semi-annual meeting of TREE Fund's Board on May 10, 2023, the Trustees accepted the independent financial audit for our Fiscal Year 2022, which ended on December 31, 2022. Following in-depth field-work and analysis, the auditors provided an "unqualified opinion," which is the desired outcome, indicating that our audited statements fairly and accurately represent TREE Fund's financial positions and internal control systems, in compliance with generally accepted accounting principles.

With this important annual step complete, we are pleased to release our Annual Report of Activities for 2022, summarizing programmatic highlights, acknowledging lead donors, and presenting a high-level overview of our balance sheet. Click here to view the Annual Report. In keeping with our commitment to organizational transparency, once the annual IRS Form 990 (essentially the tax-filing document for charitable corporations) is filed, all of our audited 2022 financial documents will be posted to our website for public access and review.

2023 Scholarship Awardees

We would like to congratulate the following students on earning scholarships through TREE Fund this year. We had a very competitive list of applicants to choose from and want to thank everyone that applied. These awardees have earned the following scholarships.

Ali Presby, Virginia Tech. Bonnie Appleton Memorial Scholarship

Ethan Ramsey, MidAmerican Nazarene University. John Wright Memorial Scholarship

Jennifer Suszek, College of DuPage. Larry R. Hall Memorial Scholarship*

Lauren Thompson, Univ. of Minnesota. Robert Felix Memorial Scholarship

Peter Murray, Michigan State Univ. Robert Felix Memorial Scholarship

Rylie Hannis, Penn State. Fran Ward Women in Arboriculture Scholarship

Taylor Sirois, Paul Smith’s College. Will Nutter Memorial Scholarship*

*This is the first year these funds have been active.

TREE Fund Ramblings: Mentions and thanks TREE Fund has recently received.

Bobby Hammond

I first heard of TREE Fund through the ISA organization. Reading through some of their literature, I came across a notice for this scholarship. I applied and was later selected as a recipient. At the time, I was a junior heading into my senior year of studies at the university of Cincinnati, majoring in Horticulture. I was working at greenhouses full time. I was borrowing money from my Mother as well as taking out loans to keep myself afloat. Then, I received the tree fund scholarship which alleviated that burden. I focused more on my studies and less on how I was affording college. 

A couple years after graduating, I left managing the greenhouses, and took a position with a large landscape company on the east side of Cincinnati called Bzak Landscaping. We are involved in nearly every aspect of the industry which makes it quite complex. I work in the design office at the company, communicating with customers and helping with operations. In this division, we’re primarily focused on putting together landscape and outdoor construction projects.  

I’m fortunate to have good opportunities in my life, like the employment I have today and my TREE Fund award. I appreciate the support in helping with my studies and my career. I do not believe I’d make it this far without the support.  

Free Webinars

TREE Fund is proud to partner with the Alabama Cooperative Extension System to bring you free education offerings. We are now able to accommodate up to 3,000 participants! 

Tuesday, August 8. Noon CDT.

Presenter: Dr. Brian Kane, University of Massachusetts.

Comparing the efficacy of pull tests versus expert opinion when assessing decay and likelihood of tree failure

ISA CEU Credits: TBA

Registration will be available two weeks prior to the webinar.

TREE Fund’s 1-hour webinars are free and offer 1.0 CEU credit for live broadcasts from the International Society of Arboriculture and the Society of American Foresters. Registration and information will become available on our website approximately two weeks before each webinar date.

Missed a webinar? Watch it anytime on our website.

CEU Credit for Recorded Webinar

TREE Fund now offers ISA CEU credits for one recorded webinar: "Loading of a Tie-in Point While Climbing." If you missed this webinar, you can now watch the recording and earn ISA CEU credits by completing a 20 question quiz with 80% accuracy. Learn more on our website.

TREE Fund is a 501(c)3 nonprofit whose mission is to support scientific discovery and dissemination of new knowledge in the fields of arboriculture and urban forestry.