Effects of Four Compaction Remediation Methods for Landscape Trees on Soil Aeration, Mechanical Impedance and Tree Establishment

Abstract Landscape trees are often planted in heavily compacted soils around newly constructed buildings or in urban areas. Under such conditions, trees frequently die, or decline prematurely. Four techniques for improving tree establishment on such sites were studied: peat-amended backfill; vertical drainage mat panels; radiating trenches filled with sandy loam soil; and vertical, gravel-filled sump drains. Sugar maple (Acer saccharum ‘Seneca Chief’), a species sensitive to soil compaction, and the less sensitive Callery pear (Pyrus calleryana ‘Redspire’) were planted bare root into treatments in a compacted silty clay loam soil. Controls were backfilled with native soil. Shoot and root growth were measured over three growing seasons. Soil air oxygen content was monitored for one year. Effects of treatments on soil compaction were characterized using measurements of both soil strength and bulk density. Shoot growth of pears was greatest for treatments that alleviated mechanical impedance (soil trenches a...