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Figure 7
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Examples of support poles
2.3 First maintenance
After bedding out, it is necessary to realize some maintenance interventions aimed to guarantee the
correct and lasting taking root of new planted trees. These practices, not only are fundamental for the
long-term achievement of the forestry intervention, but they are important also from public opinion
point of view: in fact citizens perceive that the new forested area is attended.
Following, the main after-planting interventions are synthetically described.
Irrigation
One of the first cause of plantation failure is the desiccation of roots and, subsequently, of the plant.
Therefore, at least for first years, it is fundamental that the planting trees are irrigated (Figure 8),
especially in Mediterranean environment which is characterized by very dry seasons. The use of
indigenous species conveniently chosen on the basis of implantation site characteristics restricts the
necessity of irrigation to first months and to the first summer.
Figure 8
- Example of irrigation system
However, it is opportune to control plants during dry periods, to identify suffering events due to lack
of water and intervening when necessary. Generally, in absence of heavy rain, it is advisable to irrigate
every 10/15 days with at least 50/100 liters for plants. Usually, localized distribution with drop
systems is used, or subirrigation, in order to reduce water consumption. If a fixed irrigation system is
not available, another precaution is to arrange a hollow around the hole, through the creation of a soil