F E A T U R E

Our Ca nopy–G R A Y O R G R E E N ?

MARVELOUS Mulch

URBAN FOREST MONITORP U B L I S H E D B Y T H E S A C R A M E N T O T R E E F O U N D A T I O N | S P R I N G 2 0 0 4

T H E S A C R A M E N T O

The Large Tree Argument

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S P E C I A L M E S S A G E

Sacramento hasn’t always been known as the “City of Trees”. In the early 1800’s, Sacramento was actually known as “The City of Plains.” John Muir noted in his journal during a trek from San Francisco to Yosemite Valley that our central valley was just a great expanse of wild fl owers, hip high and taller. With the exception of trees growing in close proximity to streams and banks of rivers, our valley was a great tree less plain.

First planting on J street

When Sacramento was founded in 1848, it embraced the importance of trees and began its long and rich history of urban forestry. The fi rst trees to be intentionally located along Sacramento’s streets were California sycamores planted in the 1850’s along J Street. This began a fl ourish of civic engagement with trees, parks and gardens that de-fi ned Sacramento for decades to come. However, in the 1950’s, 60’s and 70’s the Sacramento region witnessed a diminished role for tree planting and protection, due to uncontrolled suburban growth and an increased reliance on air conditioning.

STF founded in 1982

In 1982, local elected offi cials and civic leaders seeking to return trees to a place of prominence on the Sacramento agenda founded the Sacramento Tree Foundation (STF). Since that beginning, STF has forged numerous partnerships with local government, businesses and neighborhoods to increase our understanding of the importance of trees. STF has achieved statewide, as well as national, recognition for its leadership role in de-livering innovative, successful community forestry programs.

Gray infrastructure

While Sacramento has enjoyed the benefi ts of our tree-planting forefathers, the reality is that with the rapid expansion of our cities and towns, the descriptive green landscape of our region is turning to gray.

Gray is the color of our infrastructure – the collection and pumping of our water supply and storm water runoff, the asphalt and cement roadways, and the electrical and gas distribution systems. Gray is the color we associate with the

surfaces and rooftops of our built environment: our industrial complexes, commercial centers and offi ce buildings. Unfortunately, we also see too many neighborhoods and school grounds that are more gray than green.

Heat island effect

What we don’t frequently associate with our gray environment is heat and higher temperatures. Today, the ambient air temperature of our region’s cities and towns can be as much as 10 degrees F warmer than the air in nearby agricultural and rural areas. Unshaded surface temperatures in parking lots, roadways and rooftops can be twice as hot during the day as shaded surfaces. Hotter air temperatures and hotter surface temperatures are lead causes to what is known as a heat island effect.

Heat islands are caused from the reduced use of trees and other vegetation in our urban environ-ment. And this choice of gray over green comes at a cost. Some scientists and urban planners believe it is a high and unnecessary cost - unhealthy air, higher water consumption and increased energy usage. In addition, these costs fi gure in the mil-lions of dollars.

Go green

The new agenda for the urban canopy, where the vast majority of people in our region live, is to in-tegrate the green with the gray. Sometimes called green infrastructure or smart growth or low im-pact development, the dominant theme of the new agenda is to create urban forests that maximize the benefi ts of the green canopy.

A tree’s canopy is linked to almost everything - from health, to education, to groundwater quality, to land values, to a sense of place, to regional air quality, to energy conservation and to beauty.

The health of our urban forest is an indicator of the health and well being of our region’s cities and towns.

To review our six-county regional vision of a healthy urban forest that calls for the doubling of the urban forest canopy, please call (916) 924-8733 x126 or email us, shannon@sactree.com, for a free compact disc on the Sacramento Regional Urban Forest framework. Your comments and sugges-tions will be most valued.

Our Canopy - Gray or Green?From the Desk of the Executive Director

S P R I N G 2 0 0 4 | Urban Forest Monitor 3

H A P P E N I N G S

Each year Sutterville Elementary School fi fth grade teacher, Mitch Carrie, invites his students to participate in the Jiminy Cricket Environmentality Challenge – a two part program consisting of a pledge and a class project competition. The purpose of this challenge is to encourage students to think and act environmentally at school, home and in their commu-nity. This program is a unique partnership between Disney, California’s Environmental Education Interagency Network and the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service.

This year Mitch Carrie’s class chose “We All Live Downstream” as their theme. Their projects include raising and releasing salmon at Miller Park, water testing, labeling storm drains with the words “No Dumping – Flows to River” and planting

trees.Katie Wood, one of Mitch

Carrie’s students, invited Luanne Leineke, Sacramento Tree Foundation’s Community Shade Coordinator, to visit Sutterville and talk about the importance of trees. Not only did the students learn about how tree canopies and root systems slow storm water runoff, fl ooding and erosion, they planted 14 trees on their campus.

But the students are not stop-ping there! They plan to plant trees for neighbors who cannot plant trees themselves.

Fifth-grade classes from all over the U.S. participate in the Jiminy Cricket Environmentality Challenge. The class that wins fi rst place will go on a trip to Disneyland. We wish the best of luck to Mitch Carrie’s class! In our eyes, you already all are winners!

Adopt your neighborhood park or school

Does your neighborhood park or school (or street!) have tree needs? The Tree Foundation is starting a new campaign to identify and train leaders who will be the TreeKeepers of their adopted area! STF staff will work with you to make sure the best trees are located in the best places with the best of care. TreeKeeper trainings start this spring; so if you have a vision for your neighborhood public spaces, contact Steve at (916) 924-8733 x114 to adopt your spot.

Become a TreeKeeper

Sutterville Students Take on the Challenge

Do you have a favorite tree, woodland or landscape in Sacramento?

Do you know someone that has had a long-term commitment to Sacramento’s trees?

Do you know of a company or organization whose work with trees sets a worthy example for others to follow?

If you answered YES to any of the questions – Don’t forget to submit a Tree Hero Award

nomination form!The Tree Hero awards are

presented annually for outstand-ing commitments to trees by a person, group or business, and for Sacramento’s

best tree, landscape or grove.This year, the Tree Hero

awards will be presented at our 22nd Anniversary Celebration dinner on Thursday May 20, 2004.

Nomination forms are avail-able by calling (916) 924-8733 or on our website at www.sactree.com. The nomination deadline is May 1, 2004.

For more information on the 22nd Anniversary Celebration dinner, please call Shannon Sturgess at (916) 924-8733 x126.

Call for Tree Hero Award Nominations

2 0 0 4s a c r a m e n t o

Tree Hero Awards

call for nominations

sactree.comFor the most current information about how you can get involved with your urban forest.

2003 Tree Hero Award Winners:

• Legacy Award – The Camphor tree on Capitol and 18th StreetsKick back with a cup of coffee and enjoy the cooling shade of this magnifi cent tree.

• C. K. McClatchy Award – Norma HamlinFor her persistence and perseverance in saving the Snipes Pershing Ravine.

• Austin B. Caroll Award – Arden Park Save Our Street TreesFor Showing their commit-ment to the trees in their community by developing a ten year plan to replace the dying Modesto Ash.

Urban Forest Monitor | S P R I N G 2 0 0 44

W O R K I N G T O G E T H E R

Students at Center High School are proving that it takes a community to raise a tree.

Since 2000, Center High School students have planted 200 trees on their own campus and more than 500 additional trees at neighboring elementary schools, parks and nature areas throughout the Sacramento region.

Collectively, they have spent over 4,000 hours planting, prun-ing, weeding and mulching trees.

This effort was made possible

with the help of independent studies instructor and longtime friend of the Sacramento Tree Foundation – Mr. Gerry Kuehner.

It takes a reasonable amount of muscle to dig a hole and plant a tree, but these students, under the leadership of Mr. Kuehner, have demonstrated that together, they can accomplish big things!

STF salutes Center High School for its outstanding com-mitment to keeping Sacramento green.

Volunteer reporting moni-tors are needed to support the survival of our city’s elm trees. If you spend any time in downtown Sacramento during the summer, chances are you have some sort of relationship with our majestic elms, whose shade is unmatched. The girth and height of these giants in the middle of a bustling city is a unique and welcoming sight to visitors and natives alike.

Elms have had many obstacles to overcome in the past. Many years ago fl ooding in the area caused trees to become uprooted, but previ-ous generations saw fi t to save our elms. As this geriatric tree community is attacked with the likes of Dutch Elm Disease (DED) it is up to us to con-tinue the legacy of our forefa-thers and help our elders.

After being slightly sup-pressed for a few years, an increase of DED surfaced in many areas of the city last year. With the beginning of spring and summer, we as a community can help our elm elders. Take a look high in the canopy of our urban forest and let us know what you see.

To become a volunteer reporting monitor please contact Joni Ramirez at (916) 924-8733 x116 and help us keep our urban forest healthy for generations to come.

Elms In Need Deserve Monitors Indeed

Mr. Keuhner and Center High students decide on the best pruning cuts for a 3-year-old hackberry tree.

STF Salutes Center High

Folsom Fowl & Foliage:

While strolling along Mercy Trail, you can enjoy these native species:

• Valley Oak• Interior Live Oak• California Sycamore• Box Elder• Oregon Ash• White Alder• Fremont Cottonwood• California Buckeye• Blue Elderberry• Hoary Coffeeberry• Common Snowberry

Species of cavity-nesting birds that may utilize the new trail in Folsom include:

• Western Bluebird• Tree Swallow• Ash-throated Flycatchers• Bewick’s Wren• Nuthatch• Oak Titmouse• Kestrel• Western Screech Owl

Seedlings to habitat

In early 2003, STF partnered with the City of Folsom on Trails Day to plant oak trees along Mercy Trail, a section of the Humbug-Willow Creek Bike Trail. We continued this partnership in 2004 by planting more oaks and a mixture of riparian species. As the seedlings grow, the trail will be trans-formed into a fully functional wildlife habitat.

The City of Folsom has donated money to install bird boxes to further enhance the

bike trail. The boxes will eventu-ally attract local populations of secondary cavity-nesters, birds that require existing cavities in which to build their nests. Since they are unable to excavate their own cavity, their usual nesting sites include woodpecker nests from previous years and old tree branches that have decayed and hollowed out. Luckily, these birds will readily use man-made bird boxes too. Soon the bikers and hikers along the Mercy Trail will be able to add bird watching to their outing.

Folsom Mercy Trail

S P R I N G 2 0 0 4 | Urban Forest Monitor 5

W O R K I N G T O G E T H E R

If you were to look up the word “dedication” in the Sacramento Tree Foundation dictionary, you would undoubt-edly fi nd a picture of Shawn Harr.

Nearly every week, for over a year and a half, Shawn has ridden the Paratransit bus from her home in Fair Oaks to volun-teer at our offi ce. Come rain or shine, Shawn rarely misses a day at STF. Talk about dedication!

She is one of many volunteers that help out in our offi ce. It’s essential work that keeps the Sacramento Tree Foundation going!

When recently asked why she

volunteers with the Sacramento Tree Foundation, Shawn responded without hesitation, “It’s because I believe we each have a personal responsibility to protect our natural resources. If we don’t, who else will?”

Originally from the beautiful state of Hawaii, Shawn defi -nitely brings the Aloha spirit to our offi ce. It’s something that’s diffi cult to put into words, but Shawn treats everyone with the utmost sincerity, respect and humility.

There isn’t a day that goes by when Shawn doesn’t thank a staff member for giving her the opportunity to volunteer.

Shawn, you are such a joy and inspiration to work with and from the bottom of our hearts – Mahalo nui loa (thank you very much)!

Volunteer Shawn Harr brings joy and inspiration to the STF offi ce.

Volunteer SPOTLIGHT - Shawn Harr

In January, the Sacramento Tree Foundation joined forces with the Teichert Aggregates Restoration team to restore an area adjacent to Rosemont High School. Teichert Inc., a family owned mining company that operates throughout the central valley, conscientiously addresses envi-ronmental concerns and searches for responsible ways to conserve resources and go beyond merely

mitigating the impact of mining.The planting was a huge success, demonstrating

the importance of partnerships and shared re-sources in establishing successful restoration proj-ects. Through the partnership, 200 native oaks, grasses, toyon, and redbud shrubs were planted. The planting is a great enhancement area that the high school and future residents can enjoy.

Planting area next to Rosemont High School will be enjoyed by students and future residents alike.

Planting Partnerships in Rosemont

“It’s because

I believe we each

have a personal

responsibility to

protect our

natural resources.

If we don’t,

who else will?”

Urban Forest Monitor | S P R I N G 2 0 0 46

F E A T U R E

Why do we like elm trees so much?

Large stately elm trees once graced many

communities throughout the US. But now they are gone. Why were entire communities so dis-appointed when they lost their elm trees to Dutch elm disease several decades ago?

People had a sense that these trees were important to them, their family and their commu-nity. And this was long before we qualifi ed the benefi ts of trees. Now we have scientifi c evidence for what these people knew decades ago.

Large trees pay us back

We know that, dollar for dol-lar, large-stature trees deliver big savings and other benefi ts we can’t ignore. Small-stature trees like crape myrtle deliver far fewer benefi ts. In fact, our research shows that their benefi ts are up to eight times less.

Compared to a small-stature tree, a strategically located large-stature tree has a bigger impact on conserving energy, mitigating an urban heat island, and cooling a parking lot. They do more to reduce storm water runoff; extend the life of streets, improve local air, soil and water quality; reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide; provide wildlife habitat; increase property values; enhance the attractiveness of a community; and promote human health and well being. And when we use large-stature trees, the bottom-line benefi ts

are multiplied. When it comes to trees, size really does matter.

Don’t forget the established “old guard”

We can’t forget the already established trees. These older trees provide immediate benefi ts. The investment that community leaders made 30, 40, and 50 years ago is producing dividends today. Dr. McPherson, Director of the Center for Urban Forest Research, points out that “since up-front costs to establish these trees have already been made, keeping these trees healthy and functional is one of the best investments communities can make.”

What do you lose if you don’t plant large trees?

Municipal tree programs are dependant on taxpayer sup-ported funding. Therefore, com-munities must ask themselves, are large trees worth the price to plant and care for? Our research has shown that benefi ts of large

trees far outweigh the costs of caring for them, sometimes as much as eight to one.

The big question communities need to ask themselves is: can we afford not to invest in our trees? Are we willing to forego all of these benefi ts? Or, would we rather make a commitment to provide the best possible care and management of our tree re-source and sustain these benefi ts for future generations.

Cost vs. benefi ts

In most areas of the country, communities can care for their largest trees for as little as $13 per year, per tree. And, each tree returns an average of $65 in energy savings, cleaner air, better-managed storm water, ex-tended life of streets, and higher property values. Smaller trees do not come close to providing the same magnitude of benefi ts.

A hypothetical example

A few years ago, the com-munity of Greentree was faced

The Large Tree Argument

“Our research

has shown that

the benefi ts of

large trees far

outweigh the costs

of caring for them,

sometimes as

much as eight

to one.”

The case for large trees vs. small trees

This article is based on tree guide

research in the Western U.S.

This article is reprinted courtesy of

Jim Geiger and the Center for Urban

Forest Research

S P R I N G 2 0 0 4 | Urban Forest Monitor 7

F E A T U R E

with a budget crisis and decided to save money by downsizing its community forest – planting a majority of small trees in favor of large trees and replacing large trees with smaller ones (see above). It made choice X. Unfortunately, this is not an un-common story in communities today. But the real question is, what did they give up in return, and was downsizing a wise choice?

In this case, the city decided that planting 1693 small trees and 259 large trees would be a good budget-cutting strategy. Over the short term this may save the city a little money. But over the long term they will have decidedly fewer benefi ts and a decreased quality of life. City elected offi cials failed to consider what they would be giving up over the life of those trees.

Will people want to live, work, recreate, do business, and shop in this community? And will the new trees provide all of the benefi ts that the residents seek

– energy conservation, clean air, clean water, attractive surround-ings, and enhanced real estate values. The answer is a resound-ing NO! We modeled the growth of these trees over 40 years. By year 20, the decision makers had already made nearly a $60,000 annual mistake.

Choice Y is clearly the way to go to maximize their return on budget dollars. The model shows that once the trees are mature the community will receive an annual return of nearly $60,000 over choice X. Plus; the commu-nity will look quite different in the future and be a healthier and safer place to live.

Is it possible?

We may never have the arch-ing canopies we once had with the stately elms of a few decades ago. We can still achieve large, functional canopies and reap all the benefi ts. It will take planting large-stature trees in as many ap-propriate places as possible while creating the best possible site

that maximizes space and allows for adequate exchange of gases and water. And yes, it is possible!

Editor’s noteWe recognize that on some

restricted sites small-stature trees may be the best choice. However, let’s not succumb to the limited space argument so easily. We need to continue to fi ght for more space for trees in every new project and every retrofi t. The bigger the tree, the bigger the benefi ts and, ultimately, the better our quality of life.

CHOICE X CHOICE Y

Avg. Ann. Benefi tAvg. Ann. Cost # Trees

Total-Benefi tTotal Cost # Trees

Total Benefi tTotal Cost

Large Trees $65.18$13.72 259 $16,882

$3,553 1693 $110,350$23,228

Medium Trees

$36.04$6.87 753 $27,138

$5,173 753 $27,138$5,173

Small Trees $17.96$6.23 1693 $30,406

$10,547 259 $4,652$1,614

Total Trees 2705 2705

Total Benefi ts $74,426 $142,140

Total Costs $19,273 $30,015

Annual Net Value to Community $55,153 $112,125Adapted from McPherson, E.G.; ET. Al. 2002. Western Washington and Oregon Community Tree Guide: Benefi ts, Costs, and Strategic Planting. International Society of Arboriculture, Pacifi c Northwest Chapter: Silverton, OR. 76p.

Large Trees vs. Small Trees

The city of Greentree chose planting scenario X. By year 20 it was already a $60,000 annual mistake (see discussion below).

Large Tree

Total benefi ts/year = $55Total costs/year = $18Net benefi ts/year = $37Life expectancy = 120 yearsLifetime benefi ts = $6,600Lifetime costs = $2,160Value to community = $4,440

Medium Tree

Total benefi ts/year = $33Total costs/year = $17Net benefi ts/year = $16Life expectancy = 60 yearsLifetime benefi ts = $1,980Lifetime costs = $1,020Value to community = $960

Small Trees

Total benefi ts/year = $23Total costs/year = $14Net benefi ts/year = $9Life expectancy = 30 yearsLifetime benefi ts = $690Lifetime costs = $420Value to community = $270

Hypothetical case using data

for trees at year 30, projected life

expectancy from McPherson, E.G.;

et. Al. 2003. Northern mountain

and prairie community tree guide;

benefi ts, costs and strategic planting.

Center for Urban Forest Research,

Pacifi c southwest station, USDA Forest

Service. 92p.

What are trees worth?

The big question communi-ties need to be asking is: can we afford not to invest in our trees?

The value of tree benefi ts varies widely, but can be as much as $160 per tree per year for a large ash tree in Southern California. Small trees that never get very large, like the crape myrtle, provide not much more than $15 in benefi ts on average. In some cases they are a net loss to communities.

The Center for Urban Forest Research has studied large, medium and small trees in a number of loca-tions throughout the West and found that, on average, mature large trees deliver an annual net benefi t two to six times greater than mature small trees.

Urban Forest Monitor | S P R I N G 2 0 0 48

T R E E T I P S

Mulch around your newly planted

trees can make a HUGE differ-ence between just survival and leaps and bounds of new growth.

There is an old saying I’m told about newly planted trees: “First year sleep, second year creep, and third year leap!”

This was the normal pattern to adjust for transplant shock, but if you plant, care and mulch correctly, this can be changed to “First year LEAP, second year LEAP and third year LEAP!”

Let me explain the miracle of mulch, what it does, what the correct material is, how to use it and how this all comes from what Mother Nature does ‘naturally’.

People go to great lengths and expense to purchase trees, only to be disappointed by how slow they grow or that their trees have died. As a Consulting Urban Forester and Certifi ed Arborist, I fi nd most trees don’t just die. Trees are killed from misunder-stood abuse and neglect. Simple (and cheap) mulching solutions can often make a big difference.

What mulch can do to save and speed the growth of your trees

Mulch shades the soil.Just as insulation keeps a

house cool in the summer, mulch keeps the roots cooler and speeds the tree’s growth. Normally, when it is hot (as in the summer), trees enter a pro-tective growth-slowing period called heat dormancy.

Mulch reduces evaporative losses.

Mulch greatly reduces evapo-ration and creates more even soil moisture conditions. This favors a healthier root system and greater ability to “collect” water and nutrients.

Mulch aids soil aeration.Proper organic, cool and

moist conditions will provide a great home for worms and other soil insects and bugs. These creatures naturally tunnel and aerate the soil without causing harm to the root system. Roots must have air and moisture to survive. Well-aerated soil allows roots to grow more deeply and still get the oxygen they require. The small tunnels will also allow water to percolate to lower soil depths; oxygen and moisture deeper in the soil mean trees can become better anchored against wind and tolerate droughts with less stress.

Mulch protects soil from erosion.

Neither wind, rain, nor the drying sun will cause the soil to be relocated when adequate mulch protects it.

Mulch helps keep harmful equipment away from your tree.

Lawn mowers bang and rub against the trunk while the weight of the mower and person mowing may compact soil and damage roots. This weight factor is a greater compaction problem if you use a riding lawn mower. Worst of all are the spin-ning plastic line weed-eaters that “tractor blight” young trees, ex-posing the cambium, then scar-ring or killing them by girdling. Mulching, as an alternative to turf, keeps equipment away from trunks.

Marvelous Mulch Matters

A thick 4-6” mulch can suppress most weeds and provide many benefi ts for trees.

By Kenneth Menzer, ISA Certifi ed Arborist,

Consulting Urban Forester

Reprinted with his permission from

“The Curious Gardener”.

Quotes are from Arboriculture:

integrated manage-ment of landscape trees, shrubs, and vines/3rd edition/Harris, Clark, and

Matheny

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T R E E T I P S

Pick up free wood chips from SMUD to use as mulch

• Location:1708 59th Street (near S Street)

• Hours: Monday-Friday 9:00 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

• Phone:(916) 732-5854 for further information

• Bring your own tools to load mulch. Also bring bags to fi ll with wood chips or a tarp to covera pickup load.

Mulch Morsels:

• Soil fertility is usually increased by nutrients from mulch, either by direct leaching or by decomposition.

• The surface soil under mulch is favorable for microorganisms, which increase the availability of nutrients.

• Soil structure is improved when soil is covered with a thick mulch, particularly if the mulch is organic.

Mulch protects trees from the chemicals produced by grass.

Trees and grass have had a long-standing war with each other. Trees are big and powerful and take away water, nutrients and sunshine from grass. Grass is plentiful and emits a chemical that can control the growth of other plants (such as tree seeds trying to start growing or newly planted trees). This chemical process, called allelopathy, along with competition, can stunt the growth of a newly planted tree if the grass remains near the trunk. Keep grass at least two feet away from a newly planted tree. The mulch will help suffocate any grass or weeds, and, if new grass (particularly Bermuda grass) starts to cover the mulch, it will be easier to remove by hand pulling.

Mulch favors mycorrhizal fungi, Giagaspora gigantea, and other microorganisms.

This may be the most impor-tant feature of all…add mulch ON TOP OF THE SOIL every time you plant a tree. This sym-biotic relationship between root system and fungus helps trees obtain soil nutrients in exchange for sugars manufactured by the tree. Trees and most other plants would starve without the aid of mycorrhizal fungi. Along with mychorrizal fungi, about 1,000,000 microorganisms can be found in a healthy piece of soil the size of a sugar cube. They can live only in soil with decomposed organic matter. Normally, clay soil has little organic material, and even less if the topsoil has been removed. Mycorrhizal (root) fungi may have a surface area hundreds, if

not thousands, of times larger than the tree’s root system, al-lowing the tree to have access to a much larger expanse of soil. The thread-like roots of the fungi, called hyphae, improve soil porosity, and with protein (called glomalin) they actually bind soil to resist erosion. Mulch helps make all this possible.

All mulch is NOT created equal.

Correct materials make benefi cial mulches; the rest are either neutral or harmful.

The best mulch to use is organic material that will slowly rot and become a part of the soil. Mother Nature has been doing this since the beginning of plants on earth. Every sum-mer leaves form and, with most plants, they drop annually in the fall. The largest percentage of the trees’ leaves fall right beneath the same tree to re-mulch every year. So what do we do? Rake or blow them away. The best mulches are leaves, but they do blow with the wind. The next best mulch to use is a wood chip mix with leaves from branches

that have been run through a chipper. These can be made if you have a chipper or obtained from a pruning arborist or util-ity company that is doing line clearance. This is the best mulch for practical reasons, as it will hardly blow or wash away. It’s available year round. In most areas, it’s available free or close to free. Many times pruning companies will deliver it to you when they are in your area rather than having to pay the dump fees…that is if you can use large quantities (8 to 14 cubic yards per load). If you want to be reallypicky, use hardwood chippings around deciduous trees and conifer chippings around your evergreens, but macht nicht (German for “matters not”)…just do it. The neutral mulch list would include: redwood and ce-dar bark (all sizes) and shavings. These are organic, yet they are very s-l-o-w to decompose and, when fresh, have been known to injure living plants. The desir-able property of a mulch is to rot and decay…so redwood or cedar is the wrong product if this is the purpose in mind. Weed barrier cloth is touted to stop weeds from growing through while al-lowing air and water movement. It does do this, BUT it also stops the important interface between the layers of mulch and the soil, which mycorrrhizal hyphae de-pend on. Now consider negative mulches, which will do much more harm than good. Black roll sheet plastic is the number one bad guy. Most people do not use this anymore, but there are a few 1960’s holdouts that just won’t give up the habit. It sops everything: weeds, air and

continued on page 12

“This may be the

most important

feature of all…

add mulch

ON TOP OF

THE SOIL

every time you

plant a tree.”

Urban Forest Monitor | S P R I N G 2 0 0 410

M E M B E R S H I P

New and renewing

members from December

6, 2003–February 25,

2004. Please let us

know if we failed to

mention you.

CorporateSacramento County

Airport SystemLewis Operating Corp.

SupportingChris Phinney

PatronGeorge BlissJoan GuntermanBill Wensrich

ForestJames and Mary AlleyLos Rios Community

College DistrictMichael CampbellKristin DzuganMartin Helmke and Joan

Frye WilliamsPhil and Marilyn IsenbergNancy and James JoyeRobert LeonardAndrea MatarazzoPaul and Celia MattiuzziRobert and Anne MeagherKen and Cherie MenzerNancy Ranney and David

LeviJim and Claudia

Sandberg-Larsen

Cynthia ShortHenry TeichertTracy and Jordan TwistCatherine Vade Bon CoerRock Zierman

TreeGeorge AbbottMichael AzevedoBill BernhardJean BonneyJoyce Brinsky and Kay

JudsonKay and Al BrooksKerin Butterfi eldPeter ChristensenMaxine and David ClarkDavid and Candy CookDwight CrockerJoan CrossleyMaureen Daly Pascoe and

Nicolaus PascoeGeorgann EberhardtAmanda GomesMark HalesPam and David HarrisonAlan Hirsch and Vera

SandronskyAndrew Hudnut and Sara

DoughertyWalter KerseyJim and Kristin LevyJean MarquezMarty MaxwellJoan McDonaldJohn and Ida MeadeGary MeyerMarlene MirassouVirginia and Paul MuellerDavid Rater

Ronald and Jeannie ReafsAnne RudinRebecca and Lance RyenJohn and Trudy SchaferRenee and Scot SidenNancy StegerGerald and Sandra

SwaffordBarbara Weiss

SeedlingStephanie BakerKerstin BadnerMark BeachMark and Donna BellowsRose Marie BeltramieElizabeth BittnerJames BlankeTess and John ChandlerFran and Robert ClarkeRuth CraftTony and Margie DeRiggiDeirdre and Edward

DermanPamela EiseleLinda and Marty

EisenmanNell FarrJoseph and Emma

GuntermanLyla and Gordon HansonJennifer Holman and

Thomas EvansGreg HoytClaudia KilpatrickJames Knox and Sally

MagnaniRobert LeachAndee LeisyJames Maher and Julie

CozzolinoElaine McKim Mary MenconiJune PellinenSuzanne PhinneyPeggy RoarkDale RobbinsCarla SalidoPaul ShepardElizabeth and Felix SmithPaula Squire Roger and Carol

StoughtonNoboru TateishiJudy TracyClyde VickersJohn WhiteKarin Winters

AcornNina AndersonDon ArenfeldBill and Celia ArzbaecherDavid BatchellerCarol PresnellSusan PrincipeJack RankinMichael and Anna Marie

ReifkeCrystal ScmidtBill SimpsonPhillip SimpsonKurt StegenVirginia TarterSilvia TrujilloAlta and Del Tura

Our members are the lifelines of our mission. Thank you for your continued support...Join Us

Board of DirectorsPresidentMichael P. Smith

SecretaryRebecca Restrepo

TreasurerJohn H. Nicolaus

Past PreseidentMichael J. Winn

Board of DirectorsSusan BitarEric F. DouglasTupper Hull

Margaret L. KaneRick LaMantainJudith LamareAndrea MatarazzoPeter J. McBrienMatt McCauleyJeff MoralesMargaret ParsonsLynn Pomeroy

Kevin SlagleMiles J. TreasterJim Wiley

Board EmeritusJane Hagedorn Ann Kohl

STF Mission:

To promote the

importance of trees

and community action

in improving the

quality of life and

enhancing the unique

character of the

Sacramento region.

S P R I N G 2 0 0 4 | Urban Forest Monitor 11

✁C A L E N D A R

April 24, Saturday, 11AM – 5PMEarth Day Celebration at CSUS6000 J StreetSacramento, CA 95819Stop by for a tree tour and learn at the hands-on workshops.Contact Steve at 924-8733 x114 for more info or to help at the STF booth.

April 28, Wednesday, 5:30PMTreeKeeper ClassMeet at Firehouse Park in North Sacramento located on Grand Avenue west of Rio Linda Boulevard. Learn how to care for young trees so you can adopt your local park or school. Contact Luanne at 924-8733 x115 for more info.

April 30, Friday, 8AM to 3PMSACOG 2004 Regional ForumTall Order: Choices for our Future, will be the fi rst in a series of regional scale Blueprint work-shops that will explore preferred land use and transportation scenarios for the future of the six-county Sacramento region.Sacramento Convention Centerhttp://www.sacregionblueprint.org

May 13, Thursday, 6:30PMTreeKeeper ClassMeet at Strawberry Creek – From the intersection of Calvine Road and Elk Grove Florin, go south on Elk Grove Florin, and take the second right onto Black Kite Drive. Continue to creek crossing. Stop by for a tree tour and learn at the hands-on work-shops. Contact Steve at 924-8733 x114 for more info.

May 17, Monday, 6:30PMTree Tour of McKinley ParkMeet in front of the rose garden at 34th and H Streets. Learn about the magnifi cent trees in this historic park. Contact Steve at 924-8733 x114 for more info.

June 9, Wednesday, 6:30PMTreeKeeper ClassMeet at the bike trail entrance near Blue Diamond at 20th and C Street. Learn how to care for young trees so you can adopt your local park or school.Contact Steve at 924-8733 x114 for more info.

June 16, Wednesday, 6:00PMTreeage!Meet at Strawberry Creek – From the intersection of Calvine Road and Elk Grove Florin, go south on Elk Grove Florin, and take the second right onto Black Kite Drive. Continue to creek crossing. Help take care of young trees in need of your help! Pruning, weeding, watering and mulching. Contact Steve at 924-8733 x114 for more info.

June 21, Monday, 6:30PMSummer Solstice Tree Tour at CSUSMeet at the bus stop in front of the CSUS quad at the end of Carlson Drive. Celebrate the longest day of the year with a pleasant walk around the CSUS quad. Contact Steve at 924-8733 x114 for more info.

June 27, Wednesday, 10AMTree Tour at the CSUS ArboretumMeet at the arboretum sign on Carlson Drive on the CSUS cam-pus. Take a tour of interesting trees at the CSUS Arboretum.Contact Fran at 924-8733 x123 for more info.

UPCOMING eventsF O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N O N E V E N T S P L E A S E C A L L 9 1 6 . 9 2 4 . 8 7 3 3

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Sacramento Tree FoundationMembership provides you with

quarterly newsletters and announce-ments of special events. It provides the Sacramento Tree Foundation with the support essential for operations and programs.

Join others who are committed to creating a legacy of trees for future generations.

(916) 924-8733 | www.sactree.com

Yes! I want to become a member of Sacramento Tree Foundation and receive the Urban Forest Monitor. My tax-deductible membership dues are enclosed. ❍ New ❍ Renew ❍ Upgrade

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Return to: Sacramento Tree Foundation 201 Lathrop Way, Suite F Sacramento, CA 95815

For information on corporate memberships:Please contact Brandee at (916) 924-8733 x103 or e-mail members@sactree.com

With over a million trees planted in Sacramento dur-ing the Millennium Tree Campaign, there are many that could use some extra TLC to achieve their full potential. Our new Treeage campaign is seeking out young trees in the most need of tree care. Our goal is to schedule 20 events to care for these trees. If you know of some sites that need Treeage, contact Steve at (916) 924-8733 x114.

Treeage Sites Sought

Urban Forest Monitor | S P R I N G 2 0 0 412

U R B A N F O R E S T M O N I T O R

Sacramento Tree Foundation201 Lathrop Way, Suite FSacramento, CA 95815

916.924.TREE

What happened to the new name?I know that many of you were waiting in sus-

pense for the unveiling of the new name of The Sacramento Urban Forest Monitor. For those of you who were hoping that we would keep the same name – Congratulations! You got you’re wish. Temporarily.

For those of you who thought the name could use some sprucing up, don’t lose that hope.

Many great suggestions were sent in. We do have some creative and witty members. The sug-gestions sent in caused us to think a bit about the direction of the publication. Where do we want to take it? So much is in a name.

Coincidentally, STF is currently involved in the strategic planning of the organization. What timing we have! We have decided to wrap the naming of the publication in with the strategic plan. We are holding on to all of your suggestions until that process is complete.

Thank you to all who sent in potential new names.

Name Game

Non-Profi t Org.U. S . Po s t a g eP A I DPermit No. 179Sacramento, CA

The Sacramento Urban Forest

Monitora publication of the

Sacramento Tree Foundation

Managing EditorBrandee Reimers

Editor

Beth JohnsonArtful Persuasion

Contributing Writers

Fran ClarkeBecky McMahonTammy Mebane

Joni RamirezBrandee Reimers

Ray TrethewaySteve SchweigerdtShannon Sturgess

Design

Phil TrethewayTretheway Design

water movement, micro and macro life….life! The other bad ones are rocks, cobbles or gravel. Rocks in any shape, size or color in the warm foothills and Central Valley climates of California get hot and stay hot. Cobbles feel as hot potatoes right from the oven; soil should be cool and moist above tree roots, not given the extra thermal mass retained by stone. Also, the rock’s weight and heat retention may discourage earthworm and soil insect activity in the environment. Be careful with new grass clippings also. Fresh grass clippings, with plenty of nitrogen present, can easily heat up to 140°F. Compost separately, or better yet, blend with other organic matter. Mulching is simple and the best mulch is either free or pretty damn cheap. Place 30 to 40 gallons of mulch (chipped wood and leaves) around the tree’s trunk in the shape of a donut with the tree in the center. The mulch will settle down to a four to six inch depth, covering a circular area about 24 to 30 inches from the tree. The mulch should not have contact with the trunk.

Remember the old adage: “First year sleep, second year creep and third year leap”? Now you know why this happens and how to change it to: leap, leap, LEAP!

Mulch continued…

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information about how you can get involved with your

urban forest.