FORUM 



Scholarship Available 

 to Members 



The New Hampshire Plant Growers' 

 f>iSsociatwn scholarships bagan 

 ■'sometime in the '60s" when 

 Perley Lee, the owner of Lee 

 Greenhouses in Dover gave $100, 

 the NHPGA matched it, and the 

 money was given to deserving 

 students in the horticulture pro- 

 grams at UNH. Perley Lee's green- 

 houses are no longer around, but 

 the scholarship program he initi- 

 ated has prospered and grown. 



Two scholarships are usually 

 given each year. Traditionally, one 

 went to a student in the Bachelor 

 of Science degree program in 

 Plant Biology and one to a stu- 

 dent working toward an Associate 

 Degree at the Thompson School, 

 both at the University of New 

 Hampshire. Last year the appli- 

 cant base was broadened to in- 

 clude students studying horticul- 

 tural education in the Department 

 of Adult and Occupational Educa- 

 tion. 



Once again the application base 

 is being expanded. Now, NHPGA 

 members and their immediate 

 families (spouses and children) 

 who are pursuing an associate's or 

 bachelor's degree in a horticul- 

 ture-related field at any institu- 

 tion are eligible to apply. 



Application is simple — it's basi- 

 cally filling out a one-page form 

 and writing (briefly) about how 

 you became interested in horti- 

 culture and what your plans are 

 once you've received your degree. 



For forms and information, call 

 Chris Robarge at (603) 862-1074. 

 Completed applications for this 

 year's scholarships should be re- 

 ceived by November 15. Deci- 

 sions will be made at the Decem- 

 ber Board Meeting; winners will 

 be announced at the Winter 

 iVleeting on January 18. 



Feel free to apply. 



SBA Update 



TO: Parlicipaling SBA Tree Planting Program Communities and Small Business Vendors 

 FROM: Mary Reynolds. Urban Forester 



Recently the US Small Business Administration conducted a site review of 

 the SBA Tree Planting Program in selected New Hampshire communities. 

 The following are excerpts of their findings. 



"Three criteria were used in evaluating the SBA Tree Planting project 

 sites: 



1. Were the trees which SBA paid for actually planted? Could we, in 

 fact, find these trees in the field? 



2. Were the trees of good quality and structural form? Were the trees 

 correctly planted and staked using current recommendations? 



3. Were the trees being cared for, i.e., was the three-year after-care and 

 maintenance stipulated by the SBA being performed? 



The answer to the first question is an unqualified yes. We did, in fact, 

 find the trees and, for the most part, found the trees to be a minimum of 

 1 3/4 inches in caliper as specified. 



The following list highlights problems observed with respect to the an- 

 swers to question two: 



• most trees planted too deeply (70%), i.e., 6-10" too deep; 



• mulch levels too deep, i.e., higher than six inches for 85% of trees 

 planted; 



• mulch placed right up to base (trunk) of tree (100%); 



• incorrect staking methods (60%); 



• incorrect staking materials used, e.g., wire and hose (75%); 



• poor quality stock (70%); 



• burlap around root ball not removed from root ball during planting 

 (65%); 



• trees planted under power lines — and in some cases, over under- 

 ground utilities (60%); 



• trees fertilized at planting (70%); 



• trees not watered throughout first planting season (40%). 



Following problems were most frequently observed with respect to 

 question three: 



• extensive string trimmer damage to base of tree while mowing to 

 reduce grass levels at base (90%); 



• lack of watering during second growing season, including a 

 pronounced drought period; 



• lack of re-mulching to level of 2-3 inches at the beginning of second 

 growing season (85%) (this contributed to weed wacker injury to tree 

 base); 



• lack of replacement of dead and neariy dead trees after first and 

 second growing season. 



We are very concerned and disappointed with the lack of compliance 

 with current recommendations for planting and maintaining trees. Our 

 Requests for Grant Applications' stated that current recommendations for 

 tree planting and after-care must be followed for the SBA program. 



We scheduled field visitations to all SBA communities this summer. 

 We want to work with communities and small business vendors to bring 

 about compliance with regulations as well as a better understanding of 

 why current recommendations need to be implemented and become 

 mainstream practices for all tree planting and after-care. 



As always, call me with any questions or comments at (603) 271-2214. 



OCTOBER /NOVEMBER 1994 



