Community-based tree care organizations are a critical component of tree longevity in many cities and towns. These organizations provide training for volunteers to become advocates and stewards of trees in their neighborhoods. At Tree Pittsburgh, a non-profit in Pittsburgh, PA, this program is called Tree Tenders. There are nearly 1,000 Tree Tenders volunteers in the… More
Most urban trees in North America are planted in inadequate soil volumes and other inhospitable conditions that doom them to premature decline and death, meaning that we rarely capture their full ecological utility or enjoy their beauty. But, there are exceptions to every rule, and street trees are no different. Indeed, some trees planted in urban areas… More
As an urban trees and soils consultant, I am always looking for studies that examine how trees survive and adapt to the built environment. One of the biggest questions and confusions I encounter is the issue of whether organic matter (something that I discussed in a previous post) needs to be added to urban… More
Of all the benefits of urban trees that we discuss on this blog, there’s one that we haven’t addressed: food production!
You don’t need much experience in arboriculture or landscape design to notice that planting trees in cities is very different from planting trees in forest environments. There are many reasons for this, but perhaps the biggest is the difference in composition of the soil.
As a soils guy, I have a lot of discussions with clients and colleagues about the quantity of organic matter in soil. Perhaps surprisingly, there is a lot of confusion and misinformation around this issue. What is organic matter, and where does it come from?
I have to admit that one of the things I love most about street trees is the wildlife they attract. There is something so wonderful about seeing a hummingbird zip around looking for nectar or hearing bees buzzing furiously as you pass under a particularly tasty tree. It feels extra special to see sites like… More
About a month ago, someone posting the following question to the ASLA group on LinkedIn: In his book Up From Roots, James Urban criticizes our profession for not knowing basic horticultural Principles. Is this crit valid? Over 50 responses later, some of them quite impassioned, and it’s clear that Jim’s book — and this question —… More
Sarah’s post last week got me thinking about fall foliage. Everyone loves the changing colors, but until recently I didn’t know why it happened. There are three primary factors that affect fall color: the length of the day/night, weather, and leaf pigments.
Many people and (dare I say) authors of this blog cite energy savings as one of many benefits of healthy urban trees. But where exactly do these energy savings come from? The answer comes in two parts: trees benefit buildings immediately neighboring them, and they also benefit the surrounding city.
One of the most famous social science experiments of all time is the Stanford Marshmallow Experiment. This study, conducted in 1972 by psychologist Walter Mischel, examined the development of delayed gratification in children and the influence it had on their choices and success rates adults.
Last weekend I went on a biking tour of the trees in the Mission District of San Francisco hosted by Friends of the Urban Forest and the SF Bike Coalition.
Soil. Stormwater. Sustainable Infrastructure.
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