A protective tree tube has an elongated hollow body that is made of a biodegradable material, and has holes formed in the wall of the tube. The tube can be filled, at a bottom portion, with drainage material, and on top of the drainage material a planting material can be provided in which the root ball of a tree is placed. Upon placing the protective tree tube with the tree into a planting hole, the protective tree tube ca be buried and thereafter the tree will commence forming new rootage and become established.

A protective tree tube has an elongated hollow body that is made of a biodegradable material, and has holes formed in the wall of the tube. The tube can be filled, at a bottom portion, with drainage material, and on top of the drainage material a planting material can be provided in which the root ball of a tree is placed. Upon placing the protective tree tube with the tree into a planting hole, the protective tree tube ca be buried and thereafter the tree will commence forming new rootage and become established.

A system for a high-efficiency planting operation for a work machine for planting saplings. The system comprises a conveying unit to store at least one tray of saplings and to transport the tray of saplings towards a gripping unit. The gripping unit retrieves at least one sapling from the tray and to release at least one sapling towards an indexing unit. The indexing unit is coupled to the gripping unit and individually releases a sapling for planting. A planting unit receives the sapling from the indexing unit and delivers the sapling into a ground. A sensing module is coupled to a plurality of sensors to detect a set of parameters and generates data input signals based on the parameters. A controller receives the data input signals and provides feedback to the conveying unit, the indexing unit or the planting unit to adjust actuators in response to the data input signals.

Disclosed is a floating island construction method for overall transplantation of sandy soil plants, the method comprising the following steps: separation from a surrounding soil body; construction of a buoyancy tank device (13); and waterproof construction, so as to construct a plant floating island from plants to be transplanted in a reservoir area. The floating island protects all the root systems of the plants and most of the undisturbed soil, improves the survival rate, preserves the unique landscape of an original habitat, and can be constructed at the same time as water conservancy project construction, which saves on the construction period, saves costs, and is convenient for on-site overall scheduling.

Platforms, platform systems, and safety grates and related methods used to facilitate the installation of plant-based remediation systems are provided therein. A platform system can include a platform having a frame supporting a flooring structure that has a surface on which a worker can stand. The platform and flooring structure can have central aperture therein. The platform system can also include a sleeve frame positioned proximal to the central aperture. The sleeve frame can have sleeve clamps securable thereto for holding a sleeve ring round at least a portion of the central aperture and to hold a liner sleeve to the sleeve ring. Further, the platform system can also include a safety grate attachable to the platform. The safety grate can comprise a grid of crossbars with folding funnel guideboards secured to the grid of crossbars for funneling soil when backfilling the liner sleeve once the liner sleeve is placed in an excavated hole.

Platforms, platform systems, and safety grates and related methods used to facilitate the installation of plant-based remediation systems are provided therein. A platform system can include a platform having a frame supporting a flooring structure that has a surface on which a worker can stand. The platform and flooring structure can have central aperture therein. The platform system can also include a sleeve frame positioned proximal to the central aperture. The sleeve frame can have sleeve clamps securable thereto for holding a sleeve ring round at least a portion of the central aperture and to hold a liner sleeve to the sleeve ring. Further, the platform system can also include a safety grate attachable to the platform. The safety grate can comprise a grid of crossbars with folding funnel guideboards secured to the grid of crossbars for funneling soil when backfilling the liner sleeve once the liner sleeve is placed in an excavated hole.

Disclosed is a floating island construction method for overall transplantation of sandy soil plants, the method comprising the following steps: separation from a surrounding soil body; construction of a buoyancy tank device (13); and waterproof construction, so as to construct a plant floating island from plants to be transplanted in a reservoir area. The floating island protects all the root systems of the plants and most of the undisturbed soil, improves the survival rate, preserves the unique landscape of an original habitat, and can be constructed at the same time as water conservancy project construction, which saves on the construction period, saves costs, and is convenient for on-site overall scheduling.

An apparatus is provided for removal of in soil embedded item(s), such as one or more trees and/or solid items. The apparatus comprises an interstice tool having a cutting mechanism for cutting an interstice in a mass of soil which is surrounded by a trench having a trench bottom on which the mass of soil is disposed. The interstice tool is configured to cut the interstice to liberate a selected volume of soil containing the embedded item(s), and to build a platform in the interstice to support the liberated selected volume thereon. Once the selected volume of soil and/or item(s) is/are cut and supported on the platform, these may be hoisted away by use of hoisting equipment, for removal and relocation. The apparatus may also be used to pass devices like pipes, cables, and the like, through the interstice.

A membrane for covering the cut end of a tree trunk to prevent the tree from creating a seal after it has been cut. The membrane is attachable to the cut end surface of the tree trunk and includes a hydrating layer comprising a hydrogel. The hydrogel, made up primarily of water, adheres to the cut end surface of the tree trunk to continue hydrating the tree, and prevents air from reaching the tree's exposed transport tissue. In some embodiments, the membrane includes a backing layer and a release layer on opposite sides of the hydrating layer.

A standing tree baling apparatus includes a main frame and a boom pivotably connected to the main frame. The boom has a first end and a second end. A boom lifter is connected between the main frame and the boom for raising and lowering the boom about a pivot joint at the first end of the boom. A rotation arm has a first arm end and a second arm end. The rotation arm is pivotably connected to the second end of the boom at the first arm end. A driver pivots the arm relative to the boom. A compression ring is sized for loosely encircling a trunk of a standing tree and adapted for forcibly moving a succession of branches of the tree non-destructively inward toward the trunk of the tree as the ring is raised about the tree to facilitate baling of the tree with rope line. The ring is connected to the second arm end.