THE LEAFLET

Dr. Kelby Fite, Vice President and Director of Research, and Dr. Chris Riley, Research Scientist and Technical Support Specialist.

As the excitement mounts for this year’s Canopy Awards, we continue to explore the remarkable achievements of our distinguished honorees. This week, we’re shining a spotlight on Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories, a beacon of innovation and collaboration in the realm of arboriculture and urban forestry. With a rich legacy, Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories has continuously pushed the boundaries of scientific inquiry and partnership to enhance our understanding and stewardship of urban green spaces. Through their dedication and pioneering research, they have forged invaluable connections between academia, industry, and communities, fostering a thriving ecosystem of knowledge and action.

Bartlett Tree Experts has been the world’s leading scientific tree and shrub care company since its founding in 1907 by Francis A. Bartlett. The R.A. Bartlett Research Laboratories and Experimental Grounds were formally established in 1926 and can be found today on a 350-acre property in Charlotte, North Carolina. The Bartlett Tree Research Labs support the company with industry-leading research, numerous demonstration and test plots, a level IV class Arboretum, and a diagnostic laboratory that processes thousands of samples each year. The labs are staffed with scientists in fields such as plant pathology, entomology, and horticulture who advise arborists on the latest advances in arboriculture and urban forestry.

Casey Trees has been partnering with Bartlett Tree Research Labs for many years, both at Casey Trees Farm and in the field. This partnership has strengthened Casey Trees’ capacity to test different interventions that maximize tree health, improve tree planting and care practices, and inform local and regional responses to pests and diseases – all to ensure our tree canopy continues to thrive and grow. Accepting the award on behalf of Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories is Dr. Kelby Fite, Vice President and Director of Research, and Dr. Chris Riley, Research Scientist and Technical Support Specialist.

With our partners at Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories, we are testing soil amendment applications as they apply to tree planting both at our farm and in the field. These tests aim to give us statistically significant data about different soil amendments’ effectiveness both in a tree nursery/farm setting, as well as in the urban environment. Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories brings not only their specific subject-area knowledge and laboratory practices to these tests, but also the ability to partner with Casey Trees employees in the field to guide us through the scientific process, to ensure we get meaningful results.

Our current soil amendment trials include five test groups: Trees planted with no soil amendment (our test control group), trees planted with Zeba (a fine, biodegradable, starch-based polymer that is superabsorbent to allow soil to hold more water), trees planted with biochar (a highly absorbent, charcoal-like substance, made by burning organic material from agricultural and forestry waste) alone, trees planted with a mix of biochar and Casey Trees’ own organic compost mix, and trees planted with biochar that has been inoculated with a fish waste byproduct to boost nutrient levels and microbial communities.

Over the next several years and planting seasons, our employees and partners at Bartlett Tree Research Labs will monitor these test groups for tree growth, tree health, root development, soil health, and more. The results from these tests will inform our tree planting practices, and hopefully, be conclusive enough to inform best practices for the industry.

As we stand on the brink of celebrating the accomplishments of our esteemed honorees at this year’s Canopy Awards, we cannot help but reflect on the profound impact of collaboration and innovation in advancing the cause of urban forestry. Bartlett Tree Research Laboratories exemplifies this ethos, and we are immensely proud to present them with this well-deserved award. Their pursuit of scientific excellence, coupled with their unwavering commitment to partnership and knowledge-sharing, has not only elevated the field of arboriculture but has also paved the way for a greener, healthier urban landscape.