Trees Trees. Four hundred of them bring life to the National 9/11 Memorial in New York City. They soften the edges, green the plaza and embrace those who come to remember and reflect. Bartlett Tree Experts has been caring for these special trees for five years to prepare them for installation at the 9/11 Memorial and will care for them after being planted.

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Honoring the victims.

Survivor Tree.

Swamp white oak and Freedom Tower.

Trees on the plaza at the 9/11 National Memorial

Bartlett Tree Experts has been caring for the trees of this nation for more than 100 years. They are a family-owned organization that has grown to 100 offices throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland, and England.

What Makes Bartlett Unique?
The services and tree care programs delivered to clients are based upon the years of research that scientists conduct at the Bartlett Tree Research Grounds and Laboratories in Charlotte, North Carolina. Bartlett’s arboretum covers nearly 400 acres, and the facility also serves as a world-class training facility for Bartlett teammates as well as many from outside the company.

Identifying Resources and Building a Management Plan
The Bartlett Inventory Solutions (BIS) program uses Global Positioning System (GPS) and Geographical Information System (GIS) technology to document landscape characteristics, including number of trees, species (including invasives), location, condition, value, maintenance need,s and soil conditions.

It can integrate with existing infrastructure information, such as other GIS data, CAD data, or aerial imagery. And by incorporating data on buildings, roads, and underground utilities, for instance, it provides a complete picture of the landscape to enable the most informed decision-making and creation of detailed management plans.

Collecting tree and site data.

Preserving, Protecting Vegetation and Soils
When a Bartlett certified arborist is part of a landscape planning and design team, members gain from a body of research conducted at the Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories on the most effective ways to protect vegetation on construction sites. Bartlett uses that research and critical pre-construction site information from its BIS system to create a Tree Preservation Management Plan. They also help clients minimize tree injury through physical barriers and a range of other tree-specific protective measures, establishing vegetation-sensitive traffic patterns and facilitating communication with construction crews.

With the BIS system and common tools like a Dutch auger and Bulk Density Sampler, as well as soil nutrient sampling, the company can provide the basis for a soil management plan, which complements its tree preservation services.

Remediating Damage
Many of the challenges trees and shrubs face during construction is soil compaction. While Bartlett’s certified arborists can help minimize construction damage, they also have the resources to remediate inevitable impacts. One of those resources is the Root-R_X™ Root Invigoration program.

Using a patented process and a supersonic air tool, which was originally developed by the U.S. military to uncover unexploded ordnance, the arborists break up compacted soils while leaving roots unharmed. The tool also enables them to mix in organic matter, beneficial micro-organisms, and fertilizer. This Root-R_X™ process helps restore the soil – improving its structure, enhancing water-holding capacity, promoting biological diversity – while providing optimal growing conditions for trees and shrubs.

Managing Plants Sustainably
Bartlett was an early pioneer of Integrated Pest Management (IPM), a more eco-friendly way to minimize landscape pests and diseases. Its MoniTor-R_X™ Integrated Pest Management program is the culmination of years of research into sound cultural practices. At the core is monitoring trees and shrubs and treating them only when necessary and before they become a serious problem. Bartlett uses a species-specific-based approach that tailors the most effective treatments while minimizing the use of materials. As much as possible, treatments rely on releasing beneficial predators and parasites and using naturally occurring insecticides and fungicides, such as horticultural oils, insecticidal soaps, and sulfur.

Soil management is another element of sustainable plant management. While Root-RX™ Root Invigoration can be useful in remediating construction impacts, it is also valuable in ongoing plant health care. Bartlett has developed several fertilizers as part of its soil care program, one of which is BOOST Natural. Certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute (OMRI), BOOST is the only organic tree and shrub fertilizer that meets American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standards.

The company is also conducting the first known research project on the use of biochar in helping trees survive in tough urban conditions.  

Urban research plots in Chicago studying the effects of biochar on trees.

Monitoring and Innovating
From IPM monitoring and documentation, to web-based BIS offerings, to online plant diagnostics reports, Bartlett is a ready partner in tracking a landscape’s progress and development over time.

Bartlett is the only private company in the National Plant Diagnostic Network, a consortium of government agencies and universities providing rapid diagnosis of plant pests and disease. Each year the company’s diagnostic laboratory in Charlotte, North Carolina, processes moe than 10,000 plant samples. As such, tracking and documentation of lab diagnostics help identify and monitor pest and disease trends across the country. 

Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories, Charlotte, NC

To learn more about how Bartlett Tree Experts can help create more sustainable landscapes, visit www.bartlett.com, or contact Scott Jamieson, vice president, 847-770-0141.