Trees and Your Community Presented by Rachel Christenson, MCCOG ARBOR DAY09
A little background on Arbor Day - First celebrated in Nebraska in 1872. - More than one million trees were planted. - Became national holiday in 1970.
Alexandria: A Tree City, USA - Alexandria became a Tree City in 2008. - Tree Board - Tree care ordinance - Spend $2 per capita on trees, tree maintenance, or other tree related expenses. - Arbor Day observance and proclamation
How do trees benefit My Community? Trees can increase property values and improve tax base.
How do trees benefit My Community? Trees can foster safer, more sociable neighborhoods.
How do trees benefit My Community? Trees help clean our water supply by reducing the amount of pollutants that reach our streams and rivers.
How do trees benefit My Community? Trees can help purify the air we breathe by absorbing pollutants.
How do trees benefit My Community? Trees help cool our cities and towns by reducing heat from buildings and paved surfaces.
How do trees benefit Homeowners? Trees can lower energy costs by reducing the need for air conditioning.
How do trees benefit Homeowners?
How do trees benefit Homeowners? Shading your AC unit can increase it s efficiency by 10 percent.
How do trees benefit Homeowners? Trees break the force of winter winds, lowering heating costs.
How do trees benefit Homeowners? Landscaping with trees can reduce lawn space and the need for power mowing
Selecting the Right Tree For the Right Place Wrong Trees, Wrong Places. Right Trees, Right Places.
Tree Factors To Consider What is the tree s purpose? 1. Shade 2. Aesthetics 3. Windbreak or screen 4. Delineate boundaries Create a noise barrier. Shade your patio; Block unsightly views.
Tree Factors To Consider How will a mature tree affect the location? 1. Sidewalks 2. Drainage pipes 3. Overhead wires 4. Encroachment on neighbors 5. Views Not enough space!
Tree Factors To Consider What is the shape of the tree crown?
Selecting the Right Tree For the Right Place Environmental factors to consider 1. Moisture 2. Light 3. Pests 4. Soil 5. Pollutants Winter salt damage on white pines.
Ready to plant: Picking out Tree Stock Bare Root Containerized Potted Balled & Burlapped
Ready to plant: Picking out Tree Stock Inspect the roots. 1. Is the root ball firm to the touch? 2. Are large circling roots absent? 3. Are pruned roots cut cleanly and no wider than an average finger? 4. Are soil and roots joined tightly? Circling roots.
Ready to plant: Picking out Tree Stock Inspect the trunk. 1. Is it reasonably straight? 2. Does the trunk taper nicely? 3. Is the bark free of cuts and scrapes? 4. Are pruning wounds healed over? 5. Is it free of disease or insect injury? Damage on trunk from a mower.
Ready to plant: Picking out Tree Stock Inspect the tree crown and branches. 1. Is the tree symmetrical? 2. Is there a single, well developed leader? 3. Are buds plump and healthy looking? 4. Are branches well distributed around the trunk? A potted maple.
Ready to plant: Call Before You Dig!
Ready to plant: Burlapped or Potted 1. Find the root flare. 2. Dig a wide, shallow hole that is only as deep as the height from the flare to the bottom of the container (flare should be at or slightly above grade). 3. Place tree in hole; remove twine and nails, open burlap, and remove any excess soil off flare. 4. Center tree in hole; cut or tuck down burlap; backfill using existing soil. 5. Water, add more soil if needed, and mulch.
Ready to plant: Proper Mulching The right way to mulch. Volcano mulching can harm tree.
Maintaining your Tree: Watering 1. Water thoroughly at planting. 2. Water from spring until the first freeze. 3. Supplement rainfall until tree is established. 4. A slow trickle is best. 5. Soil should dry in between waterings. 6. Avoid underwatering and overwatering. For those unsure about watering, try an ooze tube.
Maintaining your Tree: Staking 1. Stake only if necessary. Wind movement is essential for proper tree growth. 2. Leave on for only 1 growing season. 3. Support in direction of wind. 4. Allow for movement. Staking options.
Maintaining your Tree: Pruning
Maintaining your Tree: Do Not Top Trees!
For more information Indiana Department of Natural Resouces, Division of Community & Urban Forestry - www.in.gov/dnr/forestry/2854.htm Indiana Urban Forestry Council - www.iufc.org - website is a great resource of tree questions/concerns - organization provides educational opportunities open to the public Arbor Day Foundation - www.arborday.org - good resource for specific tree information - join the foundation and get 10 free trees Thank You!