Tree Bark, News From Urban Forestry - All Trees, No Pulp

URBAN FORESTRY

July 2019, published twice a month

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Neighborhood Tree Stewards Program: Now Accepting Applications!

2018 NTS class learning proper tree planting technique from Urban Forestry staff.

NTS class learning to lead tree walks in 2018.

The 2018 NTS class practiced proper tree planting techniques, and learned how to lead a guided tree walk of their own!

Are you searching for a way to take your urban forestry knowledge to the next level? Do you want to learn how to work with your community to support the trees of our city? Apply today for the 2019 Neighborhood Tree Stewards course!

APPLY HERE

Neighborhood Tree Stewards (NTS) gain the knowledge, skills, and confidence to be stewards of Portland’s urban forest. Stewards put their new skills to use by planting trees, organizing, advocating, and greening their neighborhoods.

The services that healthy trees provide are important to the health of the people in our city, and Portland is working with the community to bring these services to all community members. Learning to understand trees and listen to neighbors are equally important in this effort, and the NTS course is designed to provide the tools to accomplish this.

To learn more about the program, please visit the NTS page here, or contact Clare Carney, Outreach and Stewardship Coordinator, (503) 260-0817, Clare.Carney@PortlandOregon.gov.

Upcoming Events

Opportunities to learn and volunteer!

www.portlandoregon.gov/parks/workshops

Volunteers inventory trees in Westmoreland Park.

Tree Inventory Workdays

Join Portland's largest civic science project and help us complete our inventory of every tree in neighborhood parks!

Sign up for an upcoming workday to build your tree identification skills, learn hands-on forestry surveying techniques, and meet fellow tree huggers.

Don’t know an elm from a linden? Don’t worry! A trained Team Leader will teach you everything you need to know.

Check out our workday calendar to see which parks are being inventoried next.

Upcoming workdays:

Woodstock Park, Saturday, 7/20/19, 8:30 am - noon Register here.
Pearl District Parks, Saturday, 7/27/19, 8:30 am - noon Register here.
Hillsdale Park, Saturday, 8/3/19, 8:30 am - noon Register here.

Summer Fruit Tree Pruning Workshop

Saturday, August 17, 2019, 9:00 am - noon
East Delta Park Orchard, 10910 N Denver Ave. (map)

Different trees require different care. Unlike street trees, which are often pruned to grow straight and tall, fruiting trees can be pruned and maintained to optimize fruit production.

Join us as we explore the pruning techniques that benefit stone fruit trees (apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches, and plums). Learn why they thrive under a different pruning schedule than other trees. Tools and gloves will be provided. Please wear closed-toe shoes and dress for the weather.

Please register online here!

More Upcoming Events

Now - 7/25/19, Peninsula Park Pop-Up Arboretum and now - 8/8/19, Arbor Lodge Park Pop-up Arboretum: Our next two arboreta are now up and ready for your exploration! Look for informational signs attached to selected trees as you visit these two Portland parks.

Ongoing:

Heritage Tree Photo Contest continues through December 1, 2019. Do you need to know how to find a Heritage Tree near you? Check out our map of all the Heritage Trees in town! Then remember to submit your photo here.

Urban Forest Health: Birches and the Bronze Birch Borer

White barked birches are usually more susceptible to bronze birch borer than other birch trees.

Signs of bronze birch borer damage include die-back in the upper and outer part of the tree canopy.

A healthy birch should have a full, live crown. A birch in decline will often have branches that have died, and may have small "D" shaped holes on the trunk where the bronze birch borer has exited out of the tree. Photo credit: Daniel Leavell © Oregon State University.

Is this a boring article about an appealing tree? You Betula!

You may notice some birches around town in decline. In many instances, these trees are affected by the life cycle of an insect called the bronze birch borer (BBB). The BBB is native to eastern Oregon and other parts of the US. But since the early 2000s, it has been causing the death of European (Betula pendula), Himalayan (Betula jacquemontii), and some species of Asian birches. Our native river (Betula nigra) and paper (Betula papyrifera) are less susceptible.

Signs of BBB:

Branch die back or wilted leaves – especially near the top of mature trees or all around in younger trees
“D” shaped exit holes in the trunk, sometimes oozing yellow or brown liquid
A raised or bumpy zigzag pattern under the bark, indicating beetle activity

What you can do:

Keep your trees healthy! Provide adequate water for young trees - at least 15 gallons per week during our summer drought.
Properly mulch your trees – young AND old - to keep the soil cool and moist.
Select birches that are less susceptible to BBB, such as river birch. Look for cultivars that are heat tolerant. Select a spot with some shade.
Prune out dead branches between October and April when BBB activity is minimal. Avoid pruning birches from May-September.
Become an Oregon Forest Pest Detector and stay tuned for upcoming training in the fall.

If you have birch trees in decline or suspect BBB, contact your Local Tree Care Provider for an assessment. Remember that permits are always required for street tree removal and for removal of yard trees greater than 12" in diameter at 4.5 feet (DBH). In some cases, a permit will be required if yard trees are less than 12” DBH). Additionally, pruning cuts greater than 1/2" on street trees will also require a permit. Read more details about permit requirements here.

Questions? Call (503) 823-TREE or email Trees@PortlandOregon.gov.

In Other News

Now Seeking Nominations for the 2019 Naito Community Trees Award: The nomination form for the award can be found here, and is due by midnight on August 7, 2019. Please visit our website here for more information on the Bill Naito Award and a list of previous awardees.

Tree Planting May Buy Time in Fight Against Climate Change: A recent study called "The global tree planting potential" theorizes that the planet has enough land available to support a massive tree planting effort that could capture about two-thirds of the carbon emitted by humans since the Industrial Revolution. Read an article about the study here.

Urban Forestry Permit Center Closed on Friday, July 26: Urban Forestry will be unavailable at the Permit Center from 8:30 am - 9:30 am on Tuesday, July 23, and all day on July 26. Tree Permit Applicants are welcome to drop off completed removal applications, with a check for application fees, at the 5th floor reception. For more information, check out our Alerts page here.