Tree Stock Standard Project: A Better Way To Assess The Quality Of Australian Trees

Resources Available

• Purchase a copy of the new standard AS2303:2018 'Tree Stocks For Landscape Use'

  This Standard specifies the criteria for the assessment of above-ground and below-ground characteristics of tree stock that are to be supplied for landscape use. It covers container-grown, containerized, bare-rooted and ex-ground tree stock, and can be applied to all stages of growth. The specifications and criteria in this Standard apply to all methods of production systems and styles of containers.

  https://infostore.saiglobal.com/en-au/Standards/AS-2303-2018-111281_SAIG_AS_AS_2696067/ (opens in a new window)

• Online Tree Assessment Tool

  To visualise the range of acceptable trees, the team produced this online tool into which you can input tree measurements to assess whether they comply with the standard AS2303 data.

  http://treestocker.westernsydney.edu.au/ (opens in a new window)

• Project Brochure and Summary Card - December 2018

  The team has produced two items that will be used in outreach projects in 2019.

  • Project Brochure (16pp, PDF, 4mb)
  • Project Summary Card (1pp, PDF, 600kb)

• Nursery Paper July 2017 - Testing The Tree Stock Standard

  The Australian standard for producing quality landscape trees ensures a nationally consistent benchmark for quality tree stock for landscape use. A component of the current standard focusing on root to shoot balance criteria can be influenced by the climate trees are grown in, the species of tree, the treatment they receive in the nursery, and regional differences in their performance. July 2017 HortJournal Nursery Paper: Testing The Tree Stock Standard (opens in a new window) (PDF)

Results Summary Infographic: Findings From The Research

Published on 17 March 2017

Tree Stock Standard Project Documents And Update Links

» Project Page on Hort Innovation with Final Report (opens in a new window)

» Your Ley At Work: Meet Court Campany: The Ecophysiologist Behind Tree Stock (opens in a new window)

» Your Levy At Work: Tree stock field trials move to Andreasens (opens in a new window)

» Your Levy At Work: Tree Stock Standard Research Committee Meeting (opens in a new window)

» Presentation Updates at the 4th May 2016 Steering Committee Meeting (4 May 2016) (PDF, 6243.04 KB) (opens in a new window)

» Your Levy At Work: Treestock researchers start nursery visits (April 2016) (opens in a new window)

» Project Factsheet (October 2015): Tree Stock For Landscape Use (PDF, 806.87 KB) (opens in a new window)

» Your Levy At Work - AS 2303:2015 Tree stock for landscape use release date (opens in a new window)

» Nursery Industry Technical Paper October 2015: Tree Stock For Landscape Use (opens in a new window)

» Tree Stock Allometry Project Launch Slides (PDF, 3914.54 KB) opens in a new window

Beautiful urban landscapes need strong, healthy and well-grown tree stocks, like these Manchurian Pears (Pyrus ussuriensis). These trees provide colour, shade and aesthetics all year round. Photo: David Thompson

The importance of healthy trees in urban landscapes is widely recognised as an important factor in the wellbeing of our populations and improving the liveability of our towns and cities. The nursery industry is championing significant increases in urban greenspace within the next five under the 202020 Vision project, calling for 20% more greenspace in urban centres by the year 2020.

The industry is committed to providing high-quality landscape trees and the recent adoption of the standard AS2303:2015 Tree Stock For Landscape Use is aimed at ensuring that trees conform to known standards that recognise the specific physiology, structural attributes and performance under different climatic regimes in order to assure a long and productive life in landscape plantings.

Presently, the standard enables assessment of performance metrics of landscape trees but there is a considerable gap in available knowledge on the performance of trees that includes climatic, species and container size. This research will provide the missing information through multivariate testing of these factors to consider their effects in an integrated way.

The industry is committed to providing high-quality landscape trees and the recent adoption of the standard AS2303:2015 Tree Stock For Landscape Use is aimed at ensuring that trees conform to known standards that recognise the specific physiology, structural attributes and performance under different climatic regimes...

Conducting The Research

The research project has two main objectives:

1. Acquire baseline information on root to shoot balance of tree planting stock and performance metrics

Our researchers will consult the international peer-reviewed scientific and trade literature to compile a database on root to shoot balance metrics and industry best practices.

This literature review aims to provide quantitative data that will be analysed to assess the metrics of tree stocks, including container volume, rootball diameter, stem caliper, stem taper, height and crown volume.

The findings from this phase will be made available to industry following publication in scientific journals.

2. Quantify root to shoot balance in tree stock for contrasting regions of Australia

In addition to the literature review, this research also includes field testing at nursery grower locations across Australia to evaluate varying climate conditions and species.

The fieldwork will:

• determine regional and species differences in appropriate root to shoot balance of tree stock
• develop metrics according to Australian Standard AS2303:2015 to produce lookup tables for rapid, cost-effective quantification and categorization of root to shoot balances.

These results will help to enable tree growers and buyers to produce and purchase trees of high-quality that are consistent with durability and resilience in Australia's climate.