THE MEMORIAL TREE
Working in collaboration with arborist Paul Cowie, PWP selected swamp white oaks as the tree species for the Memorial. Considered more disease resistant than red or pin oaks, the swamp white provides the strength, longevity, and symbolic weight that PWP was seeking for the Memorial.
Digging and Boxing
PWP developed a tightly-controlled specification for advanced tree procurement and maintenance and selected each specimen for consistency in size and form, seeking straight-trunked oaks that would form sturdy columns when planted at the Memorial. To maximize transplant recovery time the trees were transplanted into boxes several years ahead of construction.
The Temporary Nursery
The trees were transported by Environmental Design to a temporary nursery in New Jersey where they have been adjusting to the local climate for several years. Here, Bartlett Tree Service pruned, irrigated, and fertilized the trees to generate a canopy consistent in form and height.
Tree Transportation and Installation
Since the trees were grown in over-sized boxes at a nearby location, tree transport and installation had virtually no impact on the root system. The trees were simply craned onto a flatbed truck, driven into the city, and craned into planting pits within the plaza. In contrast to the typical 'ball and burlap' tree-transplant process, which is limited to tight windows of time in the spring and fall, the Memorial trees were installed in batches through the seasons, in pace with plaza construction.