Arlington Forestry

04/01/2020

The Five Best Urban Tree Leaves to Use as Toilet Paper — Matt Ritter

Just in case you missed this.... http://www.mattritter.net/contentblog/the-five-best-urban-tree-leaves-to-use-as-toilet-paper

As the coronavirus panic grips our nation and toilet paper shelves remain empty at stores, we can turn to the trees in our neighborhood parkways for a comfortable and convenient wipe. Simply find these common trees on your street and pick the number of needed leaves. Remember, leave some for others,

03/31/2020

We got the privilege to measure this absolute beast of a tree last week! It's a Water oak, measuring over SIXTEEN feet around! It's to be a County Champion for sure.

03/30/2020

Happy Monday everyone! Here's a gorgeous common pear blossom to start your week off right!

03/30/2020

Pruning Woody Plants – Now Via Zoom!

Hey! I know you're stuck at home, but you're not necessarily stuck inside! If you're pruning your woody plants, here's a great opportunity to learn about how to best prune! https://mgnv.org/2020/03/27/pruning-woody-plants-now-via-zoom/

Pruning for Walter Reed 55+ Mar 30, 2020 1:00 p.m. Join us for this VCE Master Gardener Virtual Classroom program on Pruning Woody Plants! Early Spring is the time to look at your shrubs and trees …

03/28/2020

Here's a Saucer Magnolia in all its glory (and a bonus closeup for the weekend), to keep you safe and sane out there!

03/27/2020

Another magnolia, the tuliptree (it's not a poplar!) shows it's woken up for the year with its banana-peel duckbill buds. This tree will show its flowers later, but watch this unfold into the most adorable little leaf in the next few weeks, and tell me that's not just as exciting!

03/26/2020

Magnolias show their face early this year, too, and the Star Magnolia is one of the smaller ones. Smaller, but not less beautiful. What a show!

03/25/2020

Oh yeah it's time to look at something that isn't a tree, but will help them grow. This is an in-progress picture of a continuous soil panel being created at a new apartment development. This allows uncompacted soil to exist under a sidewalk, without messing with the integrity of the sidewalk. The roots can grow under, and the people can walk over. You can find more information on this technique on our website: https://parks.arlingtonva.us/design-standards/

03/24/2020

Another early flowering trees is the Okame cherry. Often overlooked, because it flowers when it's too cold to stand around, but a beauty nonetheless. See these street trees show their flair in Courthouse!

03/23/2020

We're all cooped in, or keeping our distance, but the trees are in full glory. Time to appreciate some of the beauty still exploding around us. Here's the progression of the Red Maple, one of our earliest flowering trees, this year, from little red bombs of buds to muppet-worthy haircut flowers. It creates a beautiful haze on this common species.

03/11/2020

Arlington Joins Biophilic Cities Network - Newsroom

Residents and staff have been working on this for a year now. We're very excited to join the Network!

"A biophilic city places nature at the core of its planning and design and works to create abundant opportunities for people to learn about, interact with and connect with this nature. Biophilic cities have a strategic perspective on plans, policies, programs and resource allocation."

https://newsroom.arlingtonva.us/release/arlington-joins-biophilic-cities-network/

As a partner in the network, Arlington will work to conserve and celebrate nature in all its forms through mindful urban planning, design and programming.

03/10/2020

TLC for Trees at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Arlington

Nice work saving trees from English Ivy! http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/news/2020/mar/06/tlc-trees-trinity-presbyterian-church-arlington/

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02/26/2020

Some size comparisons to trees!

02/24/2020

Come to our tree workshop on combating oak decline, on March 24!

02/21/2020

LANDSCAPE SPECIALIST (TREE PLANTING)

Come work with us! We have a Tree Planting Coordinator position open!

https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/arlington/jobs/2717696/landscape-specialist-tree-planting

Become part Arlington County's effort to improve sustainability and beautify our neighborhoods and parks, by becoming our Landscape Specialist.Arlington County's Parks and Recreations Department is hiring a Landscape Specialist to become part of a team which improves outdoor spaces for environmenta...

02/18/2020

Fruit Walls: Urban Farming in the 1600s

Well this is a unique way to extend the warm growing season! I wonder if this idea is what is used at Mt. Vernon, where there are walls with espaliered fruit trees on them.

https://solar.lowtechmagazine.com/2015/12/fruit-walls-urban-farming.html

From the sixteenth to the twentieth century, urban farmers grew Mediterranean fruits and vegetables as far north as England and the Netherlands, using only renewable energy.

02/12/2020

GLOBE Observer

Want to look at trees but also love your phone? Good news! You can do both! Help NASA cross-check their satellite imagery by taking pictures of trees in their GLOBE observer app! https://observer.globe.gov/

An international network of citizen scientists and scientists working together to learn more about our shared environment.

02/12/2020

While this species is somewhat overplanted in Arlington, one cannot deny its beauty!

Red Maple (Acer rubrum) is starting to bloom on the Eastern Shore. Don't freak out...it's blooming right on time. Red Maple is one of our first natives to bloom in late winter and early spring. This tree is a common component of many of Maryland's natural communities. Red Maple has been recorded in all Maryland counties, and it is probably found in almost every quad (we need to prove that :)).

I was walking with moth expert Hugh McGuinness last weekend and he told me an interesting anecdote about moths and Red Maple. Moth enthusiasts like to put out bait during the winter. Bait is a combination of sweet and fermented/rotten food that attracts moths. Each moth enthusiast has her/his own bait recipe. What you do is wipe your bait on a trunk or large limb of a tree and during the night go out and check to see what insects have been attracted to your bait. Here's the kicker for baiting moths during the winter. As soon as the Red Maple begins to bloom, action at bait stations becomes almost non-existent. Moths prefer flowering Red Maple.

Red Maple is one of our most documented species at MBP and the Maryland Plant Atlas, but we still need quad work, especially on the southern western shore and out west in the mountains.

To view more photos of Red Maple, go to the Maryland Biodiversity Project: https://www.marylandbiodiversity.com/viewSpecies.php?species=1483

Red Maple at the Maryland Plant Atlas: https://www.marylandplantatlas.org/species.php?species=1483

Photo of a Red Maple beginning to bloom by Richard Orr, Howard County, MD 3/24/15.

02/10/2020

Roanoke Workshop 2020: "Urban Tree Sources: Discussing Safety, Stormwater and Tough Trees

For all you really dedicated tree nerds, there's an amazing workshop coming up in Roanoke, on tough trees, stormwater, and street trees. Check it out here!

https://www.treesvirginia.org/events/paid/108-roanoke-urban-tree-health-care-workshop

A total of 5.25 ISA CEUs have been approved for this workshop Register now for the Roanoke Urban Tree Health Care Workshop! "Urban Tree-Sources" Discussing Safety, Stormwater and Tough Trees March...

02/08/2020

Some trees can live for more than 1,000 years and scientists may have figured out why

NEAT! https://www.cnn.com/2020/01/14/asia/ginkgo-trees-secret-longevity-scn/index.html

New research has found that the Ginkgo tree, which can live up to 1,000 years, doesn't really show any expected effects of aging -- they are primed for immortality.

02/07/2020

StormwaterWise Landscapes 2019 - Environment

Do you want to improve the ecosystem on your lot or HOA, and get funding for it? Our StormwaterWise landscapes program can help! Applications can be submitted until March 15.

https://environment.arlingtonva.us/stormwaterwise/

StormwaterWise Landscapes Program provides residents and business owners with funding to install small-scale practices that will reduce stormwater runoff.

02/05/2020

Mature Tree Care

Check out this great post on tree care for mature trees by Casey Trees. Keep in mind that some of the facts apply to DC only, but it's a great source of information.

https://caseytrees.org/2020/01/mature-tree-care/

Caring for the largest trees costs as little as $13 per year, per tree. And, each tree returns an average of $65 in energy savings, cleaner air, better managed stormwater, extended life of streets, and higher property values.

02/04/2020

Society of Municipal Arborists 2020 Urban Tree of the Year

This is such a fun pick for Tree of the year. Hackberry is very underrated as a tree! Sure, it's a little more unusual in its shape, but its super tough, and great for our native wildlife!

https://caseytrees.org/2020/01/society-of-municipal-arborists-2020-urban-tree-of-the-year/

And how you can get your hands on one

02/01/2020

The audacious effort to reforest the planet

Tree planting is a great tool for battling climate change, but knowing some of the complexities around it can help you create a successful project. Check out the latest Washington Post article on how tree planting and carbon sequestration work together:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2020/climate-solutions/trillion-tree-reforestation-climate-change-philippines/

Trees suck Earth-warming carbon out of the atmosphere far more efficiently than any machine.

01/31/2020

Trees Planting Guide at arborday.org

Believe it or not, this is a GREAT time to plant trees! Learn how to plant a tree here:

https://www.arborday.org/trees/planting/

And find our recommended tree lists here:

https://environment.arlingtonva.us/trees/plant-trees/recommended-trees/

01/29/2020

arlingtonva.s3.amazonaws.com

Want to learn how to identify trees? No better way than to learn what they look like without leaves! It helps you recognize shape and bark, and rely on more of your senses. Check out our presentation on Winter Tree ID here!https://arlingtonva.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2020/01/Winter-Tree-ID.pdf

01/28/2020

Soil Profile Rebuilding

Terrible Tree Pits? Bringing in new soil can be expensive, and not very environmentally sound. We are trying out Soil Profile Rebuilding in some pilot projects in Arlington, to see how tilling in compost and organic matter, decompacting the soil, can help!

https://www.urbanforestry.frec.vt.edu/SRES/

Urban development often results in stripped and compacted soils that cannot sustainably support trees and landscapes and provide little in terms of environmental benefits. Soil Profile Rebuilding is a cost-effective technique that can help rehabilitate these soils to provide documented increases in....

01/15/2020

Urban Forestry Fellowship | Casey Trees

Want support with your urban forestry studies, or know someone studying urban forestry? Casey Trees has a fellowship available.

https://caseytrees.org/education/urban-forestry-fellowship/

The GCA Zone VI Fellowship in Urban Forestry The Garden Club of America: Founded in 1913, The Garden Club of America is a nonprofit organization comprised of 200 member clubs and approximately 18,000 club members throughout the United States. To promote greater understanding of the interdependence o...

01/11/2020

Do you have a leftover tree from the holidays you don't want anymore? Here's how to best dispose of them:

https://recycling.arlingtonva.us/residential/yard-waste/christmas-tree-collection/

01/10/2020

Last year was a really tough year for our trees, with oaks dying from shifting weather patterns. Learn about what foresters are calling Oak Decline here:

https://environment.arlingtonva.us/oak-decline/

01/08/2020

Fungi can be fatal to trees, but sometimes a deadly fungus is also a treasure. Check out this edible chicken-of-the-woods on this dead red oak!

https://environment.arlingtonva.us/2014/10/delicious-deadly-decorative-decay-the-fungus-among-our-trees/

01/06/2020

Happy New Year! Did you know this time of year is actually a great time to plant! Check out our recommended tree lists for suggestions for your home, your work, or place you hang out:

https://environment.arlingtonva.us/trees/plant-trees/recommended-trees/

12/16/2019

Arlington Tree Canopy Fund Applications Due Next Month

Get yourself a gift for your property and the world! https://www.arlnow.com/2019/11/27/arlington-tree-canopy-fund-applications-due-next-month/

Applications to receive a grant from Arlington's Tree Canopy Fund are now being accepted. The community program funds grants for a county-administered contractor to plant a tree on private property. New for spring 2020, the Tree Canopy Fund will also sponsor grants for property owners who may

11/20/2019

We are taking a little bit of a break for the holidays. 2020 will bring many awesome things, including the update to our Urban Forest Master Plan! Expect great things.

11/18/2019

Tree Canopy Fund

Get a free tree planted on your property, or a property you manage/work with? Apply before December 20!

https://www.ecoactionarlington.org/community-programs/trees/

Concerned about the declining tree canopy in Arlington? We are, too! So, in 2009 the Tree Canopy Fund (TCF), was launched after Arlington County Board approval in 2007 with the goals of arresting the decline and restoring and increasing the County’s tree cover over time. Administered by EcoAction ...

11/09/2019

Oh deer! This one looked at us at Potomac Overlook Regional Park like we're the ones out of place. Maybe we are?

11/08/2019

Some of our favorite books.

City of Trees – A DC (and Arlington) focused tree ID book. Includes all the native AND non-native trees planted throughout the year. No book is more comprehensive than this one for this region.
Remarkable Trees of Virginia – Showcasing the massive champion trees of Virginia, including several national champions, and collections of forests, including our Fairlington Urban Forest. A beautiful read.
Seeing Trees – A closeup look on tree components, which really spurred my love of finding the first bits of growth in Spring, folding out of tree buds, and weird underrated flowers.

11/06/2019

Safety first! Here's one of our foresters learning how to move logs with a mini excavator

11/04/2019

Oak Decline - Environment

The ridiculous weather this decade has caused damage to our oaks. We expect it to continue. Here is our information on what to do if you manage oak trees on your property, or a property you work with:

https://environment.arlingtonva.us/oak-decline/

11/02/2019

I'm sorry, but who failed to let us know that the serviceberry is also known as the Chuckley Pear? What the heckin heck.

10/31/2019

Arlington County Virginia – Government

We had an awesome conversation on housing and the Environment on Monday. You can find the recording here:

https://www.facebook.com/ArlingtonVA/videos/438122847084378/?__xts__[0]=68.ARCuezcjzltcf77GmhIXhha7qdno02OvSoT4GA7vpeYkW4PZtWcYHjuyNTHf9RergD92wJaR4B6adG-WCPoqtYBz2OjCvUAAEltFy6astLEQucahvBAMFtzKFpzeIb8b8NDwD_KPkP7tC1dj5Ip7y0rgEsvkF55H5-ITzhBRMimkcbO5cqNNsySLQARcoB08TJPQonJg3QLP8T88R-rx6n_ijc2tyVxcTgUUDQlOYbLYA_rDQHib2_qCvwlFKrEtlc5TnslPQcdetjoTyHv3qBgnCY2ZV9SxEmgszun6Le4VJawFyE4NLL6OZuQH7mG6YKt8I95jCaJODVbNcH4kO6rjoq93ZeJz7Dvr7OheGUXh&__tn__=HH-R

WATCH a discussion on the intersection of housing and the environment, including a talk of how the impacts of housing are considered, such as tree canopy, stormwater, climate change, and traffic.

10/23/2019

Our Local Forest Communities Need More Native Trees

This is a real concern. We strive to plant mostly native trees, and work actively to remove invasive plants in our highest value natural areas.

https://www.earthsangha.org/single-post/2019/09/04/Our-Local-Forest-Communities-Need-More-Native-Trees

This particular standing of Maple-Leaf Viburnum is now decimated by Bradford Pears.Some years ago, we worked with NPS in DC to create edge-of-the woodland mead

10/19/2019

Forestry staff attended some great workshops on reusing urban wastewood, at the Mid Atlantic Chapter of the International Society for Arboriculture. We learned a lot about what goes into doing something with all the removed trees.

10/17/2019

Structural cells with uncompacted soil going in at the new Mosaic Park! These will help our trees thrive in the long term, through expanded access to healthy soil.

10/15/2019

Watering - Environment

Even though we've got some rain coming, keep your trees watered until we lose the leaves. Anything you do now will help them get a great start next year!

https://environment.arlingtonva.us/trees/care-for-trees/watering/

What You Can Do The best time of day to water is early morning and late evening. You can estimate that about two gallons of water flow through a typical garden hose per minute. Therefore, you should water newly planted trees for at least three minutes. Run sprinklers a bit longer. Both young and mat...