Placer Tree Partners - Tree Resources

Treasured Tree Trail Map Guide

A walking tour guide through Auburn's urban forest featuring Treasured Trees and other trees of interest.

Treasured Tree Trail Map Guide
(Adobe Acrobat – 2,421 KB)

PTP Brochures

The following brochures developed by Placer Tree Partners are designed to help residents with proper tree care from selection of young trees to care for mature trees.

Leaf density in tree crown should be full and healthy-looking.
Leaf size, color and appearance – normal size range, healthy green color.
Roots should be distributed uniformly in the container.
Root appearance: look for whitish-colored tips and older brown-colored roots.
Absence of dead twig or branch tips (dieback), obvious disease or insects.

Look for a relatively straight central leader and a tapered trunk.
Main branches well spaced, evenly distributed, and no larger than two-thirds of trunk diameter measured 1” above the branch.
Should have small temporary branches along the lower trunk on small (less than 1 ½”) diameter trees to protect the trunk.
Reject trees with foliage only at ends of branches (“lollypop” or “lion tail”).

Tree should be strong enough to stand upright without stake support.
Free of wounds, sunburn, wood cracks, bleeding, borer holes, galls, etc.
Measure trunk caliper (diameter) 6” above soil surface. Trunk caliper should be within the range for its container size:

Free of circling or kinked roots at root crown (where the trunk flares into roots).
Upper roots or root crown should be within 1” above or below soil surface (Note: You may need to remove soil around root crown to check roots).
Rootball should remain intact when container is removed.
Rootball must be free of large circling roots and bottom-matted roots.

Rootball should be moist but not saturated throughout. Avoid trees with curling, yellowing, dead leaves, or branch dieback; these may be indicators of moisture stress.

Inspection is very important. Reject trees that do not meet these guidelines. However, if a defect can be corrected easily, do so.

Choose a tree that fits the location “Plant the right tree in the right place.”
Know the tree species height and spread at maturity.
Follow planting recommendations.
Remove weeds and lawn inside the tree dripline, and extend as canopy expands.
Place mulch 3-4” inches away from the trunk, extending out to the drip line.
Avoid planting under the canopy.
Deep water monthly in the summer.
Fertilize in the fall if necessary.
Prune out deadwood and junk branches.
Never top trees. Learn healthy pruning methods; when in doubt, ask a certified arborist.

For printable/downloadable Tree Planting Intructions, click Here. Note that this file is in Acrobat (PDF) format and requires Acrobat Reader to be installed on your computer. Download Acrobat Reader.

Winter Season — rains water the roots
Spring Season — plants are happy and growing vigorously
Summer and Fall — roots have used up stored winter rain, so we must supply water

After the rainy season, our clay soils dry to a cement-like consistency. Tree and shrub roots extend out around the plant, with most of the active roots in the top 12” of soil. Trees constantly lose water to the atmosphere, so the supply must be replenished. Roots nourish the plant only when the soil is moist. Add mulch to shade the soil and retain water in the soil.

Water slowly and deeply in clay soils to prevent runoff. Applying water with a soaker hose on the surface is an effective and reliable method. Water seeps out of the hose, slowly soaking the soil surface and allowing the tree's extensive root system to absorb the water. Lay out the soaker hose in a circular fashion to the tree dripline (vertical line from the tips of branches to the ground). Water the soil under the dripline and not beyond the canopy nor close to the trunk.

Water at monthly intervals for 6-24 hours depending on your soil. After watering, insert a soil probe to 12”; it will go down easily in the moistened areas. Bring up a sample of soil, and squeeze it in your hand. If it forms a soft ball, not too wet or too crumbly, it is sufficiently wet. For further information, consult a certified professional arborist.