This research was funded and conducted under the Everglades Systems Assessment Section of the South Florida Water Management District.

1. Preparation and Transportation to Planting Location
<ol>
	<li>Obtain 2 or 3 gal (7 or 11 L) saplings of locally grown native trees (in plastic pots), commercial peat bags (measuring 0.3 x 0.46 x 0.6 m3), tree and shrub fertilizer spikes, duct tape, polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe (2 to 3 m length, 0.8 in (2.1 cm) diameter, schedule 40), box cutter, trash bags, and a metal rod or rebar (1 to 2 m in length, 1.3 cm diameter) to puncture the peat bags. Potential tree species applicable to the Everglades are <em...

<ol>
	<li>Sklar, F. H., van der Valk, A. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=.">.</a> Tree Islands of the Everglades. , (2002).</li><li>Wetzel, P. R., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Maintaining+tree+islands+in+the+Florida+Everglades:+nutrient+redistribution+is+the+key.">Maintaining tree islands in the Florida Everglades: nutrient redistribution is the key.</a> Front Ecol Environ. 3 (7), 370-376 (2005).</li><li>Aich, S., Ewe, S. M. L., Gu, B., Dreschel, T. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=An+evaluation+of+peat+loss+from+an+Everglades+tree+island,+Florida,+USA.">An evaluation of peat loss from an Everglades tree island, Florida, USA.</a> Mires and Peat. 14 (2014), 1-15 (2014).</li><li>Dreschel, T. W., Cline, E. A., Hill, S. D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Everglades+tree+island+restoration:+testing+a+simple+tree+planting+technique+patterned+after+a+natural+process.">Everglades tree island restoration: testing a simple tree planting technique patterned after a natural process.</a> Restor Ecol. , (2017).</li><li>Stanturf, J. A., Conner, W. H., Gardiner, E. S., Schweitzer, C. J., Ezell, A. W. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Recognizing+and+Overcoming+Difficult+Site+Conditions+for+Afforestation+of+Bottomland+Hardwoods.">Recognizing and Overcoming Difficult Site Conditions for Afforestation of Bottomland Hardwoods.</a> Ecol Restor. 22 (3), 183-193 (2004).</li><li>Sharitz, R., Barton, C. D., DeSteven, D. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Tree+Plantings+in+Depression+Wetland+Restorations+Show+Mixed+Success+(South+Carolina).">Tree Plantings in Depression Wetland Restorations Show Mixed Success (South Carolina).</a> Ecol Restor. 24 (2), 114-115 (2006).</li><li>Brandt, L. A., Portier, K. M., Kitchens, W. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Patterns+of+Change+in+Tree+Islands+in+Arthur+R.+Marshall+Loxahatchee+National+Wildlife+Refuge+from+1950-1991.">Patterns of Change in Tree Islands in Arthur R. Marshall Loxahatchee National Wildlife Refuge from 1950-1991.</a> Wetlands. 20 (1), 1-14 (2000).</li><li>Armentano, T. V., Jones, D. T., Ross, M. S., Gamble, B. W., Sklar, F. H., van der Valk, A. G. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Vegetation+pattern+and+process+in+tree+islands+of+the+southern+Everglades+and+adjacent+areas.">Vegetation pattern and process in tree islands of the southern Everglades and adjacent areas.</a> Tree Islands of the Everglades. , 225-281 (2002).</li><li>Jones, D. T., Sah, J. P., Ross, M. S., Oberbauer, S. F., Hwang, B., Jayachandran, K. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Growth+and+physiological+responses+of+twelve+tree+species+common+in+Everglades+tree+islands+to+simulated+hydrologic+regimes.">Growth and physiological responses of twelve tree species common in Everglades tree islands to simulated hydrologic regimes.</a> Wetlands. 26 (3), 830-844 (2006).</li><li>Stoffella, S. L., et al. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Survival+and+growth+responses+of+eight+Everglades+tree+species+along+an+experimental+hydrological+gradient+on+two+tree+island+types.">Survival and growth responses of eight Everglades tree species along an experimental hydrological gradient on two tree island types.</a> Appl Veg Sci. 13 (4), 439-449 (2010).</li><li>Aich, S., Dreschel, T. W., Cline, E., Sklar, F. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=The+development+of+a+geographic+information+system+(GIS)+to+document+research+in+an+Everglades+physical+Model.">The development of a geographic information system (GIS) to document research in an Everglades physical Model.</a> J Environ Sci Eng. 5 (2011), 289-302 (2011).</li><li>Weinbaum, S. A., Johnson, R. S., DeJong, T. M. <a target="_blank" href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/entrez/query.fcgi?db=PubMed&cmd=Search&doptcmdl=Citation&defaultField=Title+Word&term=Causes+and+Consequences+of+Overfertilization+in+Orchards.">Causes and Consequences of Overfertilization in Orchards.</a> HortTechnology. 2 (1), 112-121 (1992).</li></ol>

This proposed approach to replanting tree islands allows the increase in elevation and deployment of trees from an airboat without the building of roads required to bring fill to each site. This minimizes the cost and disturbance of implementing tree island plantings.
An issue with this technique is the aesthetic and environmental problems associated with putting a large quantity of PVC pipe, plastic bags, and plastic pots on a marsh feature that was once a tree island. The current approach is...

Natural recolonization of degraded Everglade tree islands by native tree species is possible through seed dispersal if there are nearby islands with a diversity of tree species1,2. According to Sklar and van der Valk1 restoring severely subsided tree islands may be possible, &#34;by raising the elevation of their heads, although such efforts would be expensive and labor intensive.&#34; Currently, there are very few native (desirable) trees present near the degraded (also known as &#34;ghost&#34;) tree islands in Everglades Water Conservation Area (WCA)-2A (one of five WCAs created to store water for and prevent flooding of surrounding urban and agricultural areas) to provide the seeds needed for recolonizing the degraded tree islands3.
To raise the elevation of a subsided tree island for reforestation, appropriate fill would have to be transported to the island. This would require building roads for trucks or creating waterways for barges, leading to severe damage to the Everglades at a great financial cost. A simple, low cost technique is needed to repopulate degraded tree islands with native tree species that will provide elevation (reduce hydroperiod) and improve survival under the variable hydrology endemic to the Everglades4.
The size of these pop-ups allows the ease of transportation to the planting site. This provides an advantage compared to conventional filling of areas and planting of trees which may require roads be built for transporting. This technique thus reduces the ecological impact of tree planting activity. Additionally, these pop-ups have the ability to float for the initial six months following deployment, to allow establishment of the sapling. Under conventional tree planting scenarios, the trees may experience increased flooding stress during establishment if water levels rise.
A number of designs were tested and it was determined that greater pop-up height (bag orientation), one tree fertilizer spike to add nutrients, and planting the pop-up with a single sapling achieved the best configuration for deployment upon an Everglade degraded tree island4. Although other researchers describe the planting of trees for restoring forested wetland areas5,6, to our knowledge, none of the planting techniques described added elevation to reduce hydroperiod.
This procedure mimics the formation of floating Everglades tree islands that arise from peat that breaks away from the bedrock and floats to the surface. Upland plants can establish to form a &#34;pop-up&#34; or floating tree island which eventually moves and settles onto the peat surface and becomes what is termed a &#34;battery&#34; tree island1,7.
Everglades tree island tree species have varying tolerances to flooding for growth and survival8,9,10. In a controlled study, Jones et al. demonstrated the importance of the hydroperiod to the survival of Everglades tree island species9. Stoffella et al. found that relative elevation (to the water surface) had varying and profound effects on planted native tree species survival and growth, due to the specific tolerance of each species to flooding10. Tree species can be selected for the specific conditions present. The tree planting technique described here can provide additional elevation and consequently, tree seed sources in formerly forested regions that have lost elevation and are now subject to an inundation environment that is harmful to native tree species.
Formerly forested regions that experience extended hydroperiods might benefit from this method to reintroduce woody species to these areas. This technique provides elevation, thus reducing the hydroperiod. In addition, the trees will build soil (root and leaf biomass) and provide a seed source for continued colonization of the area.

<table>
	<tbody>
		<tr>
			<td>One or Two Gallon Native Tree Saplings in plastic pots.</td>
			<td>Local Native Plant Nurseries</td>
			<td>N/A</td>
			<td>Obtain native tree saplings grown from locally obtained seed</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Commercial Peat Bags. 5 cubic ft.</td>
			<td>Lambert</td>
			<td>Lambert Canadian Sphagnum Peat Moss (6649801115)</td>
			<td>Product description: Lambert peat moss is an excellent soil amendment because of its capacity to retain water, aerate the soil and it is completely natural. All of Lambert&#39;s peat moss packages carry the OMRI (Organic Material Review Institute) logo, which indicates that they are approved for use in organic production. Size: 5.5 cu.ft.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Vigoro Tree Spikes (Tree and Shrub Fertilizer Spikes, 15-Count)</td>
			<td>Vigoro, Swiss Farms Products Inc.</td>
			<td>Model # 154205</td>
			<td>GUARANTEED ANALYSIS (%) TOTAL IN PRODUCT (ppm): Total Nitrogen (N) 12.0000; Available Phosphoric Acid (P2O5) 5.0000; Soluble Potash (K2O) 7.0000</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>PVC Pipe: 1/2 in schedule 40</td>
			<td>JM Eagle</td>
			<td>Model # 67447</td>
			<td>Any manufacturer or supplier will do.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Duct Tape, 1-7/8 in x 12 yds</td>
			<td>MSC Industrial Supply</td>
			<td>Gorilla Heavy-Duty Duct Tape, Model# 60012</td>
			<td>Any manufacturer or supplier will do.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Metal Rod (Rebar 1.3 cm diameter, 1.2 m long)</td>
			<td>Weyerhaeuser</td>
			<td>Model # 35616</td>
			<td>Any manufacturer or supplier will do.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Box Cutter</td>
			<td>Stanley</td>
			<td>Model # STHT10273</td>
			<td>Any manufacturer or supplier will do.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Work Gloves</td>
			<td>Firm Grip</td>
			<td>Model # 3101-96</td>
			<td>Any manufacturer or supplier will do.</td>
		</tr>
		<tr>
			<td>Trash Bags (42 gallon)</td>
			<td>HUSKY</td>
			<td>Model # HK42WC050B</td>
			<td>Any manufacturer or supplier will do.</td>
		</tr>
	</tbody>
</table>

a simple planting technique for re-establishing trees where frequent inundation occurs

Many of the Everglades tree islands have lost elevation over the past century and most of their trees have died such that they are now covered with herbaceous plants. This protocol describes a simple, cost-effective tree planting technique needed for restoring degraded Everglade tree islands. The design is patterned after a natural Everglades process that creates floating peat islands, which allows tree survival and growth in flooded conditions and often leads to the development of tree islands. Commercially available peat bags were used as the medium for the growth and establishment of potted native tree saplings. The pop-up configuration floated initially and provided additional elevation to minimize inundation, with a single native tree species sapling and a single tree fertilizer spike. During a 3 year study involving 105 pop-ups, most plants survived (80%) and many thrived. Determining whether this technique can establish trees on a degraded tree island will require longer studies and extensive field tests.

The study using this technique4 was conducted within a 0.32 km2 Everglades physical model11, on a ridge to simulate testing on a ghost tree island. During this study, two bag orientations for height (low: 0.3 m, high: 0.46 m), with one versus two saplings per bag growing, were tested as well as the use of tree fertilizer spikes to promote survival and growth. Three&#160;species of saplings were used: A. glabra, F. aur...

Watch this Scientific Journal Video about A Simple Planting Technique for Re-establishing Trees Where Frequent Inundation Occurs at JoVE.com

A Simple Planting Technique for Re-establishing Trees Where Frequent Inundation Occurs

This protocol describes a simple, cost-effective tree planting technique for restoring degraded Everglades tree islands that experience inundation. The design creates an island (pop-up) which floats initially and adds elevation to promote tree survival and growth under flooded conditions.

Many of the Everglades tree islands have lost elevation over the past century and most of their trees have died such that they are now covered with ...

The overall goal of this procedure is to provide a tree planting method for maximizing tree survival under slightly flooded conditions At a depth of half a meter of water or less, for up to one quarter of the year. This method can be a useful tool in restoration of collagen, particularly for the re-vegetation of flood impacted formally forested areas. The main advantage of this technique is that it provides additional elevation for the plant and its saplings.It minimizes flooding and maximizes nutrients for tree growth. Well we first had this idea for this method when we visited an Everglades Ghost Tree island to brainstorm methods for successfully replanting the island with trees. Demonstrating the procedure will be Fabiola Santamaria and Michele Blaha, scientists from our South Florida Water Management District Everglades Research Group.Before transporting the required equipment to the restoration planting site, obtain two or three gallon samplings of natively grown native trees and native pots, commercial peat bags, tree and shrub fertilized spikes, duct tape, PVC pipes, a box cutter, trash bags and a metal rod. Transport the materials to the planting site in an airboat. The water levels at the site should be adequate enough for maneuvering the floating pop ups, but shallow enough for wading.Wearing gloves, slide the plastic pot off of the roots and pot soil of the first sapling, and cut a large hole in the pot bottom. Slide the pot with the open bottom back onto the sapling roots, and use the box cutter to make a 20 to 30CM egg shaped cut into one peat bag, at the center of what will be the upper surface. Transfer about 2000 to 5000 cubic centimeters of the peat, about half the volume of the pot, from the cut into a trash bag.Place the sapling and the bottomless pot into the egg shaped opening. The bag should come about half way up the pot, with the points of the cut bag up against the sides of the pot. Secure the pot with several windings of duct tape around the pot and the bag triangles.Insert the two pieces of PVC pipe down through to the bottom of the bag, on either side of the pot. When the sapling has been secured enter the water, and have the pop-up handed down into the water. With the sapling in the vertical position move the floating pop-up to the planting site.Push the PVC pipe completely through the bag to a depth of approximately one third to one half meter into the soil below the bag to tether the pop-up in place. Poke the metal rod through the top, bottom and sides of the peat bag, to allow the water to enter the bag and to allow the roots to emerge. Finally, insert one tree fertilizer spike completely into the top of the bag.In saplings transplanted as just demonstrated the surface of the soil and the pots, and the punctures in the top surface of the peat bags provide sites for the colonization of herbaceous plants and ferns over the study period, with the saplings responding to the treatment as generally predicted. The planting of a single sapling per peat bag, oriented to provide a high profile and with one fertilizer spike, facilitated the greatest growth during the three year study. Depending upon the size of the crew, 50 or more pop-ups could be deployed in a normal eight hour work day.After watching this video you should have a good understanding of how to build and deploy a peat pop-up for the reforestation of flood impacted sites. Don't forget that working in aquatic and hot environments requires following safe field practices, including wearing the appropriate field gear and sunscreen. Taking precautions to prevent exposure and exhaustion and avoiding interactions with potentially dangerous wildlife.

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6.1K Views.  South Florida Water Management District. The overall goal of this procedure is to provide a tree planting method for maximizing tree survival under slightly flooded conditions At a depth of half a meter of water or less, for up to one quarter of the year. This method can be a useful tool in restoration of collagen, particularly for the re-vegetation of flood impacted formally forested areas. The main advantage of this technique is that it provides additional elevation for the plant and its saplings.It minimizes flooding and m...