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September/October 2019
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THE DAVEY BULLETIN
MOVING HISTORY MAKES HISTORY
Multiple Davey operations made history in the nation's
Capital when they relocated three heritage trees in a
project that exemplifies the pinnacle of Davey's accumulated
knowledge of tree care.
Shortly after Washington, D. C., passed new heritage tree
laws, a redevelopment project, City Ridge, brought on
Wetland Studies and Solutions, Inc., a Davey company, and
Environmental Design, Inc., a Davey affiliate, to inventory
the trees at the former Fannie Mae campus. The new laws
required trees of 100 inches or more in circumference to
be protected or relocated if endangered by construction.
Chris Cowles, senior urban forester, WSSI, and Christopher
Fields-Johnson, regional technical advisor, the Davey
Institute, worked closely with the design team and the
District Department Urban Forestry Office to identify three
trees to move: a pin oak, a willow oak and a red oak.
The most difficult part? Protecting the trees in an active
construction site and ensuring that, once moved, the trees
adapted to the new soil mix of on-site clay and new
compost (including a mix of Biochar), as well as maintaining
an irrigation system through a drought-heavy summer that
helped nourish the trimmed roots as they expand into
new territory.
"This project is an opportunity to show all of our capabilities
working as a team. It makes me proud to be part of this
team on some of the biggest arboricultural challenges out
there," said Fields-Johnson.
Top left: The Davey team met the challenge of moving trees during
winter months amidst an active construction site.
Top right: All three trees stood between 60 feet and 70 feet tall with
crowns up to 60 feet to 70 feet wide. A fourth tree, a Heritage pin oak,
was preserved in place.
Bottom left: Davey team members from WSSI, the Davey Institute,
and Environmental Design, Inc., pose in front of one tree en-route to
a new permanent home.
Bottom right: One year prior to the move, crews cut root prune trench-
es, cutting back roughly 80 percent of the root system, and conditioned
the root ball soil for an entire year during a pre-stress test.
