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Native Plant Synoptic Garden
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the new planting, being careful to not build it up over the root-ball and not place it against the
stem. The backfill soil should be the original soil excavated from the hole, and should be
replaced in the hole without amending it with organic material. By following these simple steps,
the plant or tree will have the best chance for quick and long lasting establishment. After
planting, supplemental irrigation may be necessary depending on climatic conditions at the time.
Making low mounded rings around the outside of the planting hole can aid in watering. Water
can then be pooled in this zone and allowed to slowly penetrate deep into the soil, encouraging
proper root growth. Also, if at the time of planting a soil analysis indicates nutrient deficiencies
in the soil, remedial fertilizing can be included during planting.
Staking at the time of planting is generally discouraged nowadays. Research has shown
negative consequences to staking such as: plants grow taller but weaker, stems do not develop
taper, less vigorous root system development, and often the staking causes damage to the tree by
girdling the stem (Harris et. la., 2004). If the need to stake arises, here are a few general rules:
staking material should be soft where it comes into contact with the stem, it should allow for stem
movement by not being tied tautly, it should be monitored for stem girdling, and it should be
removed as soon as the plant no longer needs it.
Here are a few other notes on planting. First, make sure to remove all burlap and wire
baskets from around the root-ball. Second, make sure to “break up the roots” by teasing them out
and cutting any circling roots. This practice helps prevent roots on the outside of the root-ball
from becoming girdling roots. Third, do not apply anti-transpirants at the time of installation;
they interfere with photosynthesis (Harris et. la, 2004). Finally, it is important to continue
monitoring the plant for symptoms that may indicate stress (Watson et la., 1997).
Plant Selection
How and why particular plants are selected for inclusion into the Native Plant Synoptic
Garden will ultimately be the decision of Washington Park Arboretum staff (especially the
Collections Manager), other stakeholders, and criteria set forth for what specific plant species
are pertinent to the collection. Our proposed design reflects data collected during site analysis
and represents one design that accounts for all the variables we discovered. The most important
variables for plant selection include soil characteristics throughout the site and climatic
conditions.
As such, we have attempted to collect an exhaustive listing of Western Washington
Native Plants (including a couple of Eastern Washington plants that would be well adapted to site