April, 29 2022 – Over the years, natural outdoor environments in cities have disappeared with ongoing urbanization. The City of Philadelphia’s Greenworks Program is a plan to increase tree canopy, or greenspace. A team of Forest Service researchers set out to discover where increasing tree cover across Philadelphia would help more of the city’s residents to live longer.

Michelle Kondo is a USDA Forest Service Northern Research Station scientist who studies the many benefits trees provide and the ways cities are investing in programs to expand tree cover.

“I have always been interested in how the design of cities and infrastructure can support both ecological and human health,” she said.

Kondo’s research addresses how different types of environments affect human health. She also explores the impact of municipal place and nature-based initiatives on preventing and reducing violence, injuries and disease. She has found that people who have access, parks, gardens, trees and forests often enjoy an improved quality of life. A study of the association between self-reported health and the proximity of trees, grass and total vegetation near homes found significantly higher reporting of very good health for participants with high tree cover. There’s even evidence suggesting that trees in particular, compared with other forms of urban vegetation, have a profound impact upon human health and wellbeing.

Kondo’s work also examines issues related to environmental health and environmental justice, including the impact of innovative programs on public health and safety.

“Urban greenspace can be regarded as a preventive public health measure,” she said. “They provide opportunities for improving mental health, increased social interaction and physical activity, and reduced stress, crime and violence.”

In Philadelphia, her team found that 403 premature adult deaths – 3% of the city’s total mortality – might be prevented each year if the city increased tree canopy cover to 30% by 2025. This analysis is one of the first to estimate the number of preventable deaths based on exposure to greenspaces and its associated benefits, such as increased physical activity or reduced air pollution, noise, heat and crime. Before this study, no health impact assessment studies were available to provide policymakers with a comprehensive look at the health benefits of increasing the number of trees in urban areas.

The researchers determined that, to meet the city’s 30 percent tree canopy cover target, tree planting programs will not only need to target managed spaces like streets and parks, but also residential yards and other privately-owned commercial, industrial and institutional spaces. The data indicated that the biggest benefits would occur within areas of lower socio-economic status, where residents currently live with lower tree canopy. Increasing tree cover in these neighborhoods would not only promote public health, but also decrease health inequalities and increase environmental justice.

Based on these findings, the researchers note that policymakers are warranted in viewing urban tree canopy preservation and expansion as a tool for promoting health and reducing health-care-related costs.

This approach can be applied to other cities with greening initiatives as well.

“My colleagues and I have applied this method to cities across Europe,” said Kondo. “I would also like to scale this study up to more cities across the U.S.”

Forest Service researchers set out to discover where increasing tree cover across Philadelphia would help more of the city’s residents to live longer. (Courtesy photo by Bruce Yuanyue/GettyImages)

To view online: Can trees save lives? | US Forest Service (usda.gov)

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“Selection of trees for planting in a home landscape depends on several factors, including a suitable growing site and any function they are going to serve,” explains Tchukki Andersen, BCMA, CTSP* and staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). “Will they attract birds to the area? Shade a patio? Screen an unsightly view? Enhance the appearance of the home? Trees can provide contrast and relief from surrounding buildings and create seasonal interest in areas near the home,” says Andersen.

We advise homeowners to consider the following factors when selecting a tree:

• hardiness (ability of the plant to survive extremes of winter cold and summer heat, and sudden temperature swings)
• mature height and spread
• growth rate above and below ground
• available space above and below ground
• aesthetics
• moisture requirements for the life of the tree
• maintenance requirements for the life of the tree
• availability at local nurseries
• ornamental effects, such as branching habit, texture and color of bark, flowers, fruit and foliage

A professional tree care company can help you determine which tree species perform well in your local area and are suited to your desired planting site. Arborists typically analyze the specific planting site to determine the compatibility of the tree to the site. Environmental considerations may include:

• disease and insect problems that may limit your selections
• the prior use of the planting site
• soil conditions, such as poor drainage, high or low pH, and soil nutrition
• the presence or absence of channelized winds
• the location of utilities, both above and below ground
• the proximity of the plant to roads, walkways and security lighting

Is there enough space to plant a tree?

The space available at the specific site and mature tree size are important considerations and addressing these limits will go a long way toward reducing maintenance costs. Utilities, in particular, should be given a wide berth. If your tree will grow to 25 feet or taller, do not plant it under or near overhead power lines. Do not forget the underground utilities; they may need to be serviced at some point, and the tree should never impede this. Call 811 for the national “Call Before You Dig” hotline to make sure your chosen planting site will not hinder utility maintenance. Keep in mind the ground-level utility structures such as transformers and individual service connections, which also require space to be serviced.

Where to plant

Community ordinances may restrict planting of trees near power lines, parking strips, streetlights, sewers, traffic control signs and signals, sidewalks and property lines. Municipalities may require planting permits for trees planted on city property. City codes often require that trees on city property be maintained by the city, so citizens planting an improper selection can cause problems for themselves and the municipality.

Find a professional

A professional arborist can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the best trees and shrubs to plant for your existing landscape, and how best to protect them. Homeowners who would like a professional arborist to assess their trees should contact…

*Board Certified Master Arborist, Certified Treecare Safety Professional

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“Selection of trees for planting in a home landscape depends on several factors, including a suitable growing site and any function they are going to serve,” explains Tchukki Andersen, BCMA, CTSP* and staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). “Will they attract birds to the area? Shade a patio? Screen an unsightly view? Enhance the appearance of the home? Trees can provide contrast and relief from surrounding buildings and create seasonal interest in areas near the home,” says Andersen.

Once you’ve determined what you want your tree to do, consider the following factors when selecting a tree to plant:

Planting Site Evaluation

Available Sunlight – The amount of sunlight a tree receives can limit the kind of tree that can be planted. Consider the tree species and the location in your yard in order to determine if there will be enough (or not too much) available sunlight.

Available Water –Make sure the new planting site will have enough available water for the new tree. Proper watering is the single most important aspect of the maintenance of newly transplanted trees. In the first year or two, it is important to keep the root ball moist but not over-watered.

Room to Grow- Consider any above and below ground space restrictions. Are there overhead electrical wires the tree may grow into? Are there water and power lines underground that could interfere with root growth? Growth of trees will be restricted in less than 20 years if there are less than 200 square feet of open soil around them, including those planted close to buildings or hardscape.

When to Plant

The optimum planting time can vary drastically by region and elevation in the United States. The celebration of Arbor Day in any given state is a good indicator of optimum planting conditions for that region. Spring planting allows tree nurseries to provide a much wider selection of trees, than in the fall. Planting trees in the spring allows more time to establish and grow more over the course of the warmer months in order to best survive the dormant season. Additionally, a qualified tree care provider has the experience and knowledge to help you plant a tree at any time of year provided there is a follow up with an after-care program to ensure the best plant health.

Plant It, Don’t Bury It

Planting the tree too deeply will drastically reduce its healthy lifespan, as well as cause potential hazards as it grows. Planting trees too deeply can fall over in even moderate winds – usually causing damage or injury. Dig the planting hole slightly shallower than the tree root ball and at least twice as wide. This is to allow for flattening and settling of the root ball. The uppermost large woody lateral roots should be planted within one to two inches of the soil surface. You’ll have to poke into the top of the root ball with a stiff wire to find the topmost lateral roots. Place the root ball on a stable subgrade to minimize settling. Water the rootball sufficiently and add a 3 – inch later of composted wood chip mulch over the top.
TCIA hopes you will enjoy the spring with a successful tree and shrub planting in your landscape.

Find a Professional

A professional arborist can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the best trees and shrubs to plant for your existing landscape, and how best to protect them. Homeowners who would like a professional arborist to assess their trees should contact the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). TCIA is a public and professional resource on trees and arboriculture since 1938.  TCIA has the nation’s only Accreditation program that helps consumers find tree care companies that have been inspected and accredited based on: adherence to industry standards for quality and safety; maintenance of trained, professional staff; and dedication to ethics and quality in business practices. An easy way to find a tree care service provider in your area is to use the “Locate Your Local TCIA Member Companies” program.

You can use this service by visiting www.treecaretips.org.

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The efforts of the Ethiopian people resulted in a total of 353,633,660 tree seedlings planted across the country. Since, “less than 4% of Ethiopia’s land is forested, compared to around 30% at the end of the 19th century,” the agriculture industry was in desperate need of tree growth. Planting trees not only helps decrease “land degradation, soil erosion, deforestation, and recurrent droughts and flooding,” but aids with removing “two-thirds of all the planet-warming carbon that is in the atmosphere because of human activity.”

The Green Legacy initiative will continue into the next coming months, helping with the reforestation of Africa’s second most populated nation. They expect to plant 4 billion trees by October of this year.

Reforestation in the U.S.

In the U.S., similar initiatives are taking place. The National Forests Foundation created a campaign to plant 50 million trees on National Forest lands that have been impacted by “natural disturbances such as wildfire, insects and disease outbreaks.”

The Nature Conservancy of North America also has “Plant a Billion Trees” initiative covering areas in the U.S. from Virginia to Minnesota. Their goal is to not only help plant more seedlings in heavily forested areas but to help the restoration process. This aids the survival of animals and the improvement of water sources.

Tree planting initiatives in the U.S. and around the world have a large impact on communities, wildlife, and climate change. Since, “eighty percent of Ethiopia’s population depends on agriculture as a livelihood”, planting tree seedlings significantly moves forward the efforts made for more prosperous communities. In the U.S., “Reforestation helps sustain and increase the carbon sequestration potential of our forests, mitigating the effects of global climate change.” These initiatives would not have been possible if it weren’t for the collective effort of millions of individuals and the conservation groups organizing them.

Interested in learning more about planting trees? Check out this article!

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Computer models devised by the U.S. Department of Energy predicted that the proper placement of as few as three shade trees would save an average household $100 to $250 in energy costs each year – and that was reported in 1995, before energy costs soared!

Reduce energy use

On hot days, some large trees can pull hundreds of gallons of water through their leaves. This water evaporates, keeping the tree and its immediate surroundings cool. With the less-than-efficient use of fossil fuels for heating and cooling our buildings, it only makes good sense to take advantage of the following principles.

“Plant deciduous trees on the south and west sides of a building,” advises Tchukki Andersen, BCMA, CTSP* staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association. “Those are the sides where the sun’s rays are most intense. Since deciduous trees lose their leaves in winter, they offer shade during summer but permit the winter sun to provide warmth,” adds Andersen. “Where there isn’t room for trees, shrubs and vines can provide similar benefits.”

Best trees and locations for shade

Plant deciduous trees with high, spreading crowns to the south of your home to provide maximum summertime shading. Trees with branches lower to the ground are more appropriate to the west, where shade is needed for afternoon sun. These locations are best for trees to act as nature’s air conditioners. Trees should not be planted on the southern sides of homes in cold climates. This is because the branches of these trees will block some winter sun.

“Although a slow-growing tree may require many years of growth before it shades your roof, it will generally live longer,” notes Andersen. Also, because slow-growing trees often have deeper roots and stronger branches, they are less prone to fail during extreme weather. Slow-growing trees can also be more drought resistant than fast-growing trees.

Trees, shrubs and ground-cover plants can also shade the ground and pavement around the home. This reduces heat radiation and cools the air before it reaches your home’s walls and windows. Use a large bush or row of shrubs to shade a patio or driveway. Plant a hedge to shade a sidewalk. Build a trellis for climbing vines to shade a patio area.

Shrubs planted close to the house will fill in rapidly and begin shading walls and windows within a few years. However, avoid allowing dense foliage to grow immediately next to a home. This can cause wetness or continual humidity, which can be a problem.

Enhance property values

Beyond energy savings and beauty, homeowners who take care of their trees find the value of their properties increase. A number of studies have shown that real estate agents and home buyers assign between 10 and 23 percent of the value of a residence to the trees on the property. Read more about the benefits of trees.

What can you do?

Many arborists have training in ecosystem services, including energy efficient landscapes, which is a growing branch of tree appraisal. A professional arborist can provide information regarding the value potential of your trees. They can work with you to determine the best trees and shrubs to plant for your existing landscape. Use the Find A Tree Care Company tool to connect with a qualified arborist in your area.

To calculate the energy value of the trees on your own property, try out the i-Tree Design feature of the i-Tree suite.

* Board Certified Master Arborist, Certified Treecare Safety Professional

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“Deer are selective feeders that eat leaves from flowers, shrubs and ornamental trees,” explains Tchukki Andersen, BCMA, CTSP* and staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association. “Damage to larger trees can extend up to 7 feet off the ground.”

In some areas, deer damage peaks in winter when snow cover reduces the food supply. Most areas with overpopulated deer herds experience problems year-round. The availability of natural food sources and the taste preferences of individual deer make deer-proofing a landscape a difficult task in many areas.

“Deer will eat almost any plant rather than starve,” says Andersen, “so damage control measures will be needed in addition to careful plant selection. Use of fencing and repellents also can help control deer damage to landscapes.”

Fences and plant protectors

An 8-foot-tall fence is generally sufficient to deter deer, but a double fence (fence within a fence) is most effective. In the latter case, space the fences about 4-feet apart to prevent deer from jumping both. If the cost and appearance of a double fence seem overwhelming, try tree protectors or wraps. These help to discourage deer from browsing on young trees. Plastic tree wrap, woven-wire mesh cylinders or burlap can be used to protect individual or group plantings. Be sure to unwrap shrubs at the end of the winter to allow for healthy plant growth.

Repellants

Repellents may help deter deer, but they do not eliminate damage completely. Homemade repellents include rotting eggs (mix two eggs with a gallon of water and spray the mixture on ornamentals). The eggs rot on the plants and the smell repels deer. Human hair hung in mesh bags makes a simple repellent. Hang the hair bags on the outer branches of trees about a yard apart and replace them monthly. Bars of strong-smelling soap hung in the same way will also work. This is a good way to make use of all those aromatic Christmas gift soaps you don’t plan to use. Most repellants have limited effectiveness, so switch them up to keep the deer guessing.

Once deer taste your garden, it is difficult to rid them of the habit. Replacing your current mix of trees and shrubs with plants that are less appealing will help move the herd along to other sites. The Tree Care Industry Association recommends planting trees that have a history of surviving areas of heavy deer activity, such as:

Best trees

Downy serviceberry, redbud, hackberry, pinion pine, juniper, paper birch, Japanese false cypress, magnolia, silver maple, peach, plum, willow, Japanese cedar and Colorado blue spruce.

Best shrubs and climbers

Larger, tall shrubs tend to withstand deer browsing better than low-growing ones because they have more leaves, making them able to withstand some defoliation; and taller plants are out of reach. Try these shrubs:

Barberry, pawpaw, boxwood, caryopteria, American bittersweet, red osier dogwood, Japanese plum-yew, creeping wintergreen, hollies, leucothoe, European privet, Japanese andromeda, Virginia creeper, blueberry elder, lavender and rose of Sharon.

Check with your local garden center or tree care company for a list of trees and shrubs in your area that are the least appealing to deer.

Find a professional

A professional arborist can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the best trees and shrubs to plant for your existing landscape. Search for a qualified tree care professional in your area.

*Board Certified Master Arborist, Certified Treecare Safety Professional

The post Ideas for Keeping Your Landscape Deer Free appeared first on Tree Care Tips.

“Planting evergreen trees and shrubs in certain areas around your house can create an effective windbreak,” says Tchukki Andersen, BCMA, CTSP* and staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA). “Generally, most cold winds come from the north or west. An option for those sides of the building is to plant a dense row of evergreens. This will provide additional insulation for your building. Be sure to plant them far enough from the foundation to allow for growth.”

Creating a windbreak

The ultimate goal of planting a windbreak – or living snow fence – is temperature control. A planting design that takes into account wind speed and direction can offer homeowners benefits ranging from reduced energy costs to more efficient landscape water management.

“Wind barriers can channel winds away from your house and cut down on cold drafts getting in,” Andersen advises. “In addition, shrubs, bushes and vines planted near a house can help keep the house cool in summer.”

How far away should you plant?

Allow enough space in the tree’s root zone for roots to grow. A qualified tree care provider can assist you with tree selection if you aren’t familiar with how much room a mature tree’s roots will need. Install physical root barriers if concerns about the foundation arise.

How dense should the windbreak be?

Whether your goal is to reduce the chilling effects of winter winds or control the accumulation of snow, the density of the plantings is key. A rough estimate of density can be determined by estimating the ratio of the “solid” area (branches, trunks, leaves, etc.) to the total area of the barrier.

For example, a row of deciduous trees might offer a density of roughly 30 percent. This means that the row consists of 30 percent trees and 70 percent open space in winter. By comparison, a row of conifers might have a density of 50 percent or 60 percent in winter.

Higher-density windbreaks are better at slowing wind speed enough to cause snow to drop to the ground. Therefore, snow will accumulate both on the windward and leeward side of the row (or rows). These types of living snow fences are extremely useful for keeping roads, driveways and other high-use areas clear of drifts. This means less plowing, less shoveling and less aggravation.

Every location is different, and there is no perfect design that will be effective in all situations. A professional arborist can evaluate your planting sites and help plan an effective windbreak that will offer homeowners a variety of benefits for years to come.

What can you do?

A professional arborist can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the best trees and shrubs to plant and to care for in your existing landscape. Search for a qualified tree care professional in your area.

*Board Certified Master Arborist, Certified Treecare Safety Professional

The post Planting to Reduce Those Winter Heating Bills appeared first on Tree Care Tips.

According to an article by Maria Hakki for I Heart Intelligence, the rusty patched bumble bee, native to eastern North America, is a vital pollinator. “Without them, food wouldn’t grow,” says Hakki.

With a simple Google search, you will find many lists of plants that are great for attracting bees, but not many of these lists are specific to bumble bees. Take this a step further – you’ll be hard-pressed to find a list of trees and shrubs that are bumble bee friendly.

Bumble bee-friendly trees

• Fruiting and ornamental varieties of apple, cherry, plum and pear
• Willows (Salix)

Bumble bee-friendly shrubs

• Viburnums
• Barberry (Berberis)
• Cotoneasters
• Japanese andromeda (Pieris)
• Escallonia
• California lilac (Ceanothus)

What else can you do?

The USFWS recommends a variety of efforts to help the rust patched bumble bee, including growing a garden, using native plants, providing natural areas and limiting the use of chemicals and pesticides.

Not only will your efforts help the endangered rusty patch bumble bee, all other pollinators will be helped, as well!

Additional resources about pollinators

• S. Department of Agriculture – Forest Service
• Pollinator Partnership
• Pollinator Conservation Resource Center

Have questions about the trees and shrubs in your landscape?

Contact a qualified arborist in your area. Not only can they can help you identify your existing trees and shrubs, they can also recommend new plantings that will work well given the light, soil and hydration conditions of your landscape.

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Alternatively, you may suffer from something botanists refer to as tree blindness – the lack of recognition and inability to identify the trees that occupy the space in which you live.

Unfortunately, not being able to identify tree species also means you’re unable to recognize the signs when your trees are unhealthy.

Here are a few examples of common trees in your backyard and how to identify them.

Ash

Ash trees commonly found in the eastern United States – they are a native species in the area, but are also frequently purchased for landscaping.

These trees can be identified by opposite branching (branches protruding on opposites sides of the same limb), compound leaves (multiple leaves connecting to a central stem) and diamond-pattern bark.

It’s important to be able to identify ash trees due to the infestation of Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) across the country. Be a Smart Ash helps homeowners learn how to identify the ash tree and this this invasive insect.

Maple

Probably the most recognized feature of the maple is its veiny leaves with a mixture of large and small teeth (think of the Canadian flag – that’s a maple leaf!).

Maples drop their seeds inside little “helicopters” that can be seen spinning down from the tree. Like ash trees, maples also have opposite branching.

There are many different types of maple trees, including sugar maple, red maple, Japanese maple and silver maple. Sugar maples are best known for the high sugar content in the sap they produce which makes them the best choice for use in maple syrup production!

Birch

Birches are often recognized by their smooth bark. Perhaps the most recognizable birches are those with white bark, including the paper birch, silver birch and Japanese white birch.

This tree has approximately 40 different species – white-barked birches are often used as ornamental plantings for landscaping in cooler, northern climates.

They thrive in moist soil, however, when planted too near a home the roots might grow towards plumbing pipes.

Do you have a tree that you would like to identify? Here are a few resources that might help!

Leafsnap – This free mobile app for iPhones uses visual recognition software to help identify tree species from photographs of their leaves.

Virginia Tech Tree ID – Best for Androids, this app created by Virginia Tech contains fact sheets for over 1,000 woody plants across North America. Users can enable GPS to find species in the immediate area, and can further narrow down the list by answering a series of questions about the tree’s attributes.

What Tree Is That? – The Arbor Day Foundation’s tree identification field guide is an illustrated, step-by-step process that makes tree identification easy by answering questions about a tree’s leaves.

Still stumped? An arborist would be happy to identify the trees in your landscape, assess their health and provide a treatment plan to maintain their health and safety. Use TCIA’s search tool to hire a professional arborist or tree care company.

Image Credits:

Emerald Ash Borer – Eric R. Day, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Bugwood.org

Maple Leaf – Pexels.com

Birch Trees – Pexels.com

The post How to ID Common Backyard Trees appeared first on Tree Care Tips.

“There are a number of growth features that increase a tree species’ susceptibility to breakage in ice storms,” says Tchukki Andersen, BCMA, CTSP* and staff arborist with the Tree Care Industry Association. “Among them are: included bark, decaying or dead branches, increased surface area of lateral (side) branches, broad crowns or imbalanced crowns, and small branch size.”

Included bark results from in-grown bark in branch junctions. This is a weak connection and increases the likelihood of branch breakage under ice-loading conditions. “For example,” says Andersen, “Bradford pear branches are known to break during ice storms; this is because they commonly have included bark in branch junctions. In contrast, the Aristocrat pear has few branches with included bark and sustains less damage during ice storms.”

Decaying or dead branches are already weakened and have a high probability of breaking when loaded with ice. The surface area of lateral branches increases as the number of branches and the broadness of the crown increase. With an increased surface area, more ice can accumulate on lateral branches; the greater ice load results in greater chance of branch failure.

Many broad-leafed tree species, when grown in the open, form broad crowns (decurrent branching), increasing their susceptibility to ice storms. Examples include Siberian elm, American elm, hackberry, green ash and honey locust. Trees with imbalanced crowns are also more susceptible to ice damage. Generally, though, susceptibility can vary greatly depending on the time of year, geographic location and overall health of the tree.

Management and prevention of ice-storm damage: Plan, then plant

Think about your future. When planting a new tree in your yard, you should have a clear understanding of the size that tree is expected to grow. Will it grow too close to the house? The overhead wires? The sidewalk? Proper tree placement, away from structures, will reduce property damage. Trees should not be planted in locations where growth will interfere with above-ground utilities – branches that grow into power lines and fail during ice storms create power outages and safety hazards. Trees pruned regularly from a young age should be more resistant to ice storms as a result of removal of structurally weak branches, decreased surface area of lateral branches and decreased wind resistance. Professional arborists can install cables and braces to increase a tree’s tolerance to ice accumulation in situations where individual trees must be stabilized to prevent their failure.

After storm damage has occurred, hazardous trees and branches require immediate removal to ensure safety and prevent additional property damage. Trees that can be saved should have broken branches properly pruned to the branch collar. Do not leave stubs or use flush-cut pruning – which result in weakly attached branch sprouts growing back. Poor pruning practices such as these also invite future insect and disease problems. Cut back loose bark only to where it is solidly attached to the tree. A split fork often can be repaired through cabling and bracing.

Tree species resistant to ice damage can be planted to reduce tree and property damage from ice storms:

Find a professional
A professional arborist can assess your landscape and work with you to determine the best trees and shrubs to plant for your existing landscape. Use the Find a Tree Care Company tool to search for a qualified arborist in your area.

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