Deep Planting Long-Stem Nursery Stock: An Innovative Method to Restore Riparian Vegetation in the Arid Southwest

Abstract

On the Ground • The successful establishment of riparian shrubs in the arid Southwest has been accomplished by using “deep planting” methods in riparian areas that lack overbank flooding. • This methodology involves the immediate exploitation of capillary fringe moisture by the existing root system of long-stem nursery stock and the deep burial of native shrub root crowns. • The methodology precludes or drastically reduces the need to apply irrigation water in arid and semi-arid environments in order to establish riparian shrubs and trees by deep planting long-stem native nursery stock.