TreeBaltimore

TreeBaltimore A program of the Forestry Division of Baltimore City's Department of Recreation and Parks

Registration for fall 2026 TreeKeepers Introduction to Planting is now open. Join this community of residents who are ...
08/20/2026

Registration for fall 2026 TreeKeepers Introduction to Planting is now open.

Join this community of residents who are caring for our canopy, one tree at a time. Program participants are trained in best planting and maintenance practices and gain insight into what they can personally do to help our local urban trees survive & thrive.

The program also includes a panel of community leaders / TreeKeepers who share their boots-on-the-ground experience, as well as a hands-on field session to practice alongside forestry experts.

Certified Baltimore TreeKeepers gain permission from the Forestry Division to work along city streets and in parks.

Class will be held at the Greenmount Rec Center on Wednesday, September 16th from 6-8:30pm followed by the weekend field session on either Saturday, September 19th or Sunday, September 27th.

Details and registration at https://www.treebaltimore.org/treekeepers-upcoming-classes

Save the date for the TreeBaltimore Summer Gathering on Thursday, August 27th from 5:30-8:30pm. You don't wanna miss thi...
07/31/2026

Save the date for the TreeBaltimore Summer Gathering on Thursday, August 27th from 5:30-8:30pm. You don't wanna miss this one! During the event, the New Official City Tree of Baltimore will be revealed! After 52 years of the reign of the Bradford pear, its finally time to rally around a native, climate resilient tree that better represents our sweet city.

Join us at Cylburn Arboretum for a picnic-style event near the mansion house. Bring your own chair, blanket and anything else to help you enjoy the fun-filled evening. As usual, TreeBaltimore will provide the food, drink and entertainment.

Get ready for a ‘hot dog’ style race (think Orioles games) of all 6 tree candidates to unveil the lucky winner. And we want you to join in the celebrations! Come dressed up as the tree species that won your vote. Bring your own flags, noicemakers, and team spirit, and let's show some joyful support for ALL our city trees.

Parking is limited, so carpooling, public transit and biking are highly encouraged. Invite a friend, grab a costume, and RSVP to save your spot for an unforgettable evening to make tree history.

https://www.treebaltimore.org/gathering

Only one year after it was first detected in Baltimore City, beech leaf disease (BLD) is already widespread across our g...
07/28/2026

Only one year after it was first detected in Baltimore City, beech leaf disease (BLD) is already widespread across our green spaces, posing a significant threat to our urban canopy. This disease is caused by a foliar nematode, a type of microscopic roundworm, that feeds inside the leaf buds, leading to significant dieback, decline, and death of beech trees. Dark stripes or bands between the veins of leaves are a distinct, early symptom of BLD infection and a common sight in Baltimore's forests today.
Join us on Wednesday, August 5th from 6-7pm for an informative virtual presentation to learn more about BLD, its anticipated impacts, and what homeowners can do to protect beech trees on their property.
Our host, Megan Carr, is your friendly local Forest Ecologist with the Natural Areas Unit at Baltimore City Forestry. Her work takes her through forested natural areas all around the city, where she keeps an eye on forest health and identifies ways that we can support the landscapes that support us.

https://www.treebaltimore.org/event-details/beech-leaf-disease-in-baltimore-city-what-we-know-so-far

PSA: HEY BALTIMORE, WATER A TREE NEAR YOU! The Baltimore region has been experiencing a prolonged, severe drought. Comp...
07/02/2026

PSA: HEY BALTIMORE, WATER A TREE NEAR YOU!

The Baltimore region has been experiencing a prolonged, severe drought. Compounded with this current heat wave, our trees need some extra TLC.

As you stay cool and safe this weekend, be sure to keep our tree friends in mind by giving them a cool drink. Regular watering is THE most important factor for young tree survival.

—> Recently planted trees require 15-20 gallons of water per week between May-September for at least the two first years after planting. (note that smaller saplings, like giveaway trees, require only about 10 gallons).
—> Apply water evenly around the base of the tree trunk and as wide as the root ball (4–5-foot diameter circle).
—> Water as slowly as possible to allow for maximum root absorption. Methods for slow drip watering include: putting a hose on low and setting a timer, drilling small holes into the bottom of 5-gallon buckets, or purchasing slow-release products like gator bags, greenwells, or tree diapers.
—> Apply all 20 gallons at once versus 5 gallons spread throughout the week. This allows for deep infiltration.
—> Water early the morning or later in the evening to reduce evaporation and chance of disease.
—> During periods of drought, (NOW!) even our large, mature trees need water. Water big trees away from base of the trunk, closer to the tips of the branches or the “drip line” where the small absorbing roots are located.
—> Maintain mulch around trees. This helps during dry spells by retaining moisture and regulating temperatures. But be sure the mulch doesn’t touch the bark.
—> Rain is only a substitute for watering if there is a one-inch rainstorm or greater.

Learn more watering tips and tricks at our new Watering Guide listed at https://www.treebaltimore.org/resources (under "TreeKeepers Resources")

It takes a community of people to grow a community of trees. Let’s do our part to care for our canopy.

Earlier this week, TreeBaltimore staff were excited to go on a tour of a local Miyawaki forest managed by NeighborSpace ...
06/11/2026

Earlier this week, TreeBaltimore staff were excited to go on a tour of a local Miyawaki forest managed by NeighborSpace of Baltimore County!

Microforests (also called pocket forests, microforests or mini forests) were first developed by Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki in the 1970's and have since spread across the globe, transforming degraded landscapes into healthy ecosystems. The technique involves planting a diverse mix of native species very closely together, which accelerates growth and enhances biodiversity. The planting and maintenance of these forests is a wonderful engagement opportunity for people of all ages and backgrounds. Microforests can be as small as the size of one parking space!

For the tour, were joined by our partners at Blue Water Baltimore, The 6th Branch, and National Wildlife Federation as well as volunteers from the Oliver community.

NeighborSpace of Baltimore County works with local communities to protect, restore and steward greenspaces near urban areas across the county. Their team shared details of the hard work they’ve put over the past year to restore a beautiful, wooded parcel in the Owings Mills area. They worked with volunteers to remove invasive species and then plant dozens of native trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants in 3 small microforest plots.

Our Baltimore City coalition is gleaning information in order to plant the first-ever mini forest in Baltimore City. Stay tuned for updates!

This is our FINAL CALL to VOTE for the next Official City Tree of Baltimore!We have six finalists – bald cypress, overcu...
06/05/2026

This is our FINAL CALL to VOTE for the next Official City Tree of Baltimore!
We have six finalists – bald cypress, overcup oak, bitternut hickory, black gum, American sycamore and tuliptree, . All great trees, but there can only be one winner. Who will YOU vote for to become the next tree icon that embodies the ecological and cultural identity of our wonderful city? Are you a fiery foliage fan for black gum? A culinary comrade for bitternut hickory? A blooming beauty fan for tulip tree? An acorn advocate for overcup oak? A swampy supporter for bald cypress? Or maybe a riparian radical for sycamore?
The poll ends TOMORROW, Saturday June 6th at 11:59 p.m. Tell your friends to make their voices heard! The winner will be announced at our upcoming Summer Gathering on August 27th. We hope to see you there to reveal the finalists and to celebrate our new official city tree!

Bitternut hickory week continues. Bitternuts are the most common hickory found along our stream valleys. So it’s no surp...
06/04/2026

Bitternut hickory week continues. Bitternuts are the most common hickory found along our stream valleys. So it’s no surprise our gorgeous city champion is in Herring Run Park��

This beauty is situated along the south side of the Mill Race Trail about 130 feet NW of where it joins the Parkside Loop Trail near the base of the sledding hill. It scores 248 big tree points. It’s 107’ tall with a 122” circumference and a 77’ spread. On the other side of the Mill Race Trail up the hill you can spot another bitternut hickory nearly as large. Make it a must stop on your annual fall foliage tour.��

Head to our website to vote for your favorite species by midnight Saturday: https://www.treebaltimore.org/official-city-tree

06/03/2026

Friends of Patterson Park has added a tree planting to their monthly volunteer clean up. They are looking for some volunteers For more info https://volunteer.bloomerang.co/volunteer/ #/join-party?k=44pkxtfvhgp7ek

It’s bitternut hickory week! This is our last (but not least) nomination for the next Official City Tree of Baltimore. T...
06/02/2026

It’s bitternut hickory week! This is our last (but not least) nomination for the next Official City Tree of Baltimore. The days are numbered to cast your vote! Polls close THIS Saturday, June 6th.

Ranging from Texas to Minnesota and from Florida to Maine, found in moist bottomlands, floodplains, and drier upland sites, the bitternut, or “yellowbud,” hickory is long-lived and adapted to a wide variety of soils.

This species is the fastest growing and the largest of the hickories. It can be identified by its smooth grey bark, sulfur-yellow buds and bright yellow compound leaves in the fall. Bird species like Yellowbilled cuckoo are found in their tops where an abundance of insect diversity thrives.

The nuts have a bitter flavor (and are ignored by most wildlife) but when they are pressed into oil, the bitterness goes away and can be used in cooking! Foraging expert Samuel Thayer said, “This tree species is the most promising temperate perennial oil crop in the world, and is an important indigenous foodway.”

Head to our website to vote for your favorite species before the deadline: https://www.treebaltimore.org/official-city-tree

Photo credits:
Fall color and nuts, Carya cordiformis (Wangenh.) C.Koch
Green leaf, CC BY-SA 3.0

Along Baltimore’s streets, what you may think is a sycamore is probably actually a London planetree. American sycamores ...
05/30/2026

Along Baltimore’s streets, what you may think is a sycamore is probably actually a London planetree. American sycamores are most commonly found along our streams in natural areas and planted in parks and open spaces.

American sycamore is native to the Baltimore region. London planetree is a hybrid of both Oriental planetree and American sycamore, and is more tolerant of pollution and urban conditions.

Here are a few ways to tell the difference: 1) Sycamores will have seed balls that grow singly (one ball per stalk) while London planetree often grows seed balls in pairs (occasionally one or three).

2)Sycamore leaves are noticeably wider than they are long, while those of the London planetree have deeper sinuses and resemble a maple leaf in shape.

3)The bark is varied. Sycamore has very white bark that is mottled all the way down the trunk while London planetree has greenish tint with thicker, dark brown bark at the base.

As we close out American sycamore week, enjoy photos the City Champion, located on private property in West Baltimore. It scores 333 big tree points. Its circumference is 172” with a spread of 113.5’. At 133’ it is the second tallest measured tree in Baltimore.

In other parts of the country, American sycamore is know as buttonwood. The fine-grained wood was once used to make buttons on clothing and shoes.

Head to our website where you can peruse info on all 6 candidates and cast your vote for the next official city tree! The polls remain open for one more week!treebaltimore.org/official-city-tree

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