This particular project has issues that I would like to discuss. On our first day <br />out to the project I decided not to plant because of standing water 6 -10" deep <br />where trees were to be planted. I am instructed to plant Big Leaf Maple, <br />Autumn Purple White Ash, Oregon Ash, American Hophornbeam, Shumardii <br />Oak, and Cascara. None of these trees can tolerate being planted in wet <br />locations. Approximately a third of these trees are to be planted in Bio Swales <br />(areas specifically designed to catch all of the water from the street to settle <br />before going into storm drains). These trees I feel are doomedi, from the <br />beginning. <br />The remainder of the trees are to be planted along the new sidewalks on both <br />sides of the street. The planting strip sits between the sidewalk and a concrete <br />curb on the edge of the street. The dirt is made up of sandy loam layed over <br />hard clay. The combination of all sides of the planting strip being surrounded by <br />concrete with the bottom being clay, makes the sandy loam we're trying to <br />plant in act like a catch basin not letting water drain well because there is no <br />place for it to go. This has led to muddy conditions to plant in." In the wetter <br />areas we are planting the trees higher than normal to give them a better chance <br />at survival as we discussed. However I am still worried how these trees will <br />perform. Many of these trees cannot�,tolerate wetsoel. <br />These muddy conditions have led to logistical issues while planting. I tried to <br />drive my equipment to plant the trees over the dirt and immediately sank 10- <br />12". This mini skid steer only weighs 1500 pounds and is on rubber tracks to <br />spread the weight. It is meant to drive over soft terrain to do jobs like this <br />without damaging the turf. We have had to resort to putting pieces of plywood <br />near the tree to be planted in order to do our work, then move the plywood to <br />for doing so:` I,feel} "this is a bitmunfar <br />