At least two trees from Quirino Avenue were earthballed to the Hidden Garden at Taft Avenue in Manila, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) said.Over 90 trees along Quirino Avenue are expected to be earthballed to make way for the Southern Access Link Expressway (SALEX).But the cutting of more than 200 trees was halted last May 27 after it received public backlash. The DENR said that it is studying if there are trees that could be earthballed instead.What is earth-balling?Earth-balling is a process where a tree is dug up along with its roots so to be relocated or replanted in another area.Trees from Quirino Avenue will reportedly be brought to various parts of Manila, including the Hidden Garden.A rooting hormone is applied to the tree scheduled for earth-balling even before it is dug up to protect and care for its roots, the DENR explained.There is reportedly an 80% chance that the trees will survive if they are properly earth-balled and well-maintained.The DENR added that not all trees can undergo earth-balling because there are some that reportedly have a low chance of survival once relocated.There are more than 500 trees along Quirino Avenue that reportedly already have defects, while 16 were found to be still standing but dead, so they need to be cut down.“For those trees that were cut, if they were to be transplanted, they wouldn't survive because some are already decaying, resulting in a very low survival rate,” said Norlito Eneran, DENR assistant secretary for legal affairs, enforcement, human resources, and field operations-Luzon.But how safe is earth-balling for trees?In 2013, an earth-balled pine tree that was affected by a mall's expansion project in Baguio City died.The DENR said that mature pine trees are sensitive to earth-balling, which is why they often die when dug up.The survival rate of pine trees is reportedly higher if the diameter of their trunk is less than 15 centimeters.The Supreme Court in 2019 permanently ordered a halt to the tree cutting and earth-balling in the area.In 2023, over 200 earth-balled trees reportedly died in Cebu. According to the authorities' investigation, the hired contractor likely lacked adequate technology or equipment for earth-balling, which led to the death of the trees.Last February 2026, the Global Mangrove Alliance of the Philippines opposed the earth-balling of mangrove trees, following a DENR memorandum regarding the matter.They called for the cancellation of the issued memorandum regarding the earth-balling of mangroves, citing studies that have proven its survival rate to be low.However, there are also reports of successful earth-balling. In 2019, young Balayong trees affected by a road-widening project in Puerto Princesa, Palawan, were successfully relocated.Using an earth-balling machine worth P16 million, the trees survived at a 7.6-hectare park.This means that in the earth-balling of trees, the species, age, and size of the tree to be dug up and relocated must be carefully considered.Adequate equipment is also required to ensure that the tree is not damaged during the earth-balling process.Consideration must also be given to where the trees will be relocated.The DENR said that inspections are conducted within six months after earth-balling to monitor the survival rate of the trees.If the tree is found to have not survived after six months, the company or agency that secured the earth-balling permit is required to plant replacement seedlings. —LDF, GMA News