Happy Valentine’s Day! Show your trees some love and prune them! Late winter is the perfect time to prune most trees as they are fully dormant. This will give them time to heal as they grow in the spring, prevent diseases and fungus from spreading, and stimulate new growth for the coming season! Plus, you can really see the form of the tree, and any damage it may have, while the leaves are gone. Increased snow pack may also give you a “leg-up” on the situation. For tips on pruning your trees, visit UMaine Cooperative Extension for more information.
Cities Would Literally Be Much Cooler With More Trees
Washington Post - In the middle of winter, on a cold, grey day, it’s easy to find yourself yearning for some summer warmth. It’s also easy to forget the deadly heat.
2022 was Europe’s hottest summer on record, leading to more than 20,000 excess deaths across western Europe, and this summer could be even worse with the return of El Niño.
The effects may be felt most in our cities, which are on average 1.5 degrees Celsius warmer than surrounding areas due to so-called urban heat islands (UHIs). That’s when building materials (concrete, asphalt, metal) and machinery (cars, trucks, air conditioning units) absorb and produce heat, turning city blocks into baking ovens. Read more...
A Tree Can Be An Equalizer
Arbor Day Foundation - One might assume everybody has access to trees, greenspace, and nature regardless of race, color, or creed.
But dig a little closer and another story emerges. Pull up any satellite map of most urban areas of the United States and it will yield a patchwork of green hues prominent in some locations, hard to find in others.
Too often, it’s people of color living in these neighborhoods with less access to greenspaces and nature. This nature disparity can have further dire consequences beyond access to nature’s benefits. Climate change, for example, is creating worsening challenges for everyone, yet its impacts are felt disproportionately by those least equipped to face them. Read more...
What Planting Trees In the Street Could Look Like in Boston: Learning From Other Cities
Streets Blog - How and where we plant street trees impacts the quantity and quality of benefits we get in return such as how cool our streets feel during hot summer days, and how efficiently trees can filter rainfall and serve as stormwater management infrastructure.
At the block level, at least 40 percent of surface area should be shaded under tree canopies to counteract the heat-absorbing effects of asphalt streets and rooftops, according to a 2019 study by the University of Wisconsin, Madison . Being strategic in how we allocate space for these natural resources is a key factor for climate resiliency efforts.
This September, the City of Boston released its Urban Forest Plan, a 237-page document outlining the city’s long-term strategy for adding trees throughout the city in an equitable and sustainable way, part of its larger climate change agenda. Read more...
