Trees & Green Cities

Cleaner Air – Trees clear tons of pollution from our air each year.

Reduced Global Warming Pollution – an average city tree will absorb a ton of carbon dioxide over its lifetime.

Increased Home Value – trees can increase your home’s selling price by 5, 10 or even 20 percent.

Beauty and Grandeur – such as colorful fall leaves and evergreens in our gray winters.

Cleaner Water in Our Streams – trees hold and filter large amounts of water, reducing flooding and saving ratepayers millions of dollars each year.

Healthier Birds and Other Wildlife – trees in yards and parks provide valuable habitat and help protect salmon streams.

Choose the Right Tree For Your Landscape – Consider how large it will grow and whether your yard provides the right sunlight, space, soil and moisture conditions. Ask nursery staff for advice, or see below.

Give Your Tree a Good Start – Fall is the best time to plant a tree. Dig a hole 2-3 times wider but not deeper than the root ball, and backfill with native soil. Mulch, leaving a hand-width area around the trunk open, and water thoroughly.

Trees Need Water in Summer – For the first three years, water is crucial for the tree to survive and grow strong roots. Even mature trees need one or two good soakings a month during the hot, dry season.

Proper Pruning Will Help Trees Stay Healthy – Prune young trees to create a strong structure and to remove dead, damaged, diseased, crossing and rubbing branches. Poor pruning can seriously damage your tree, so consider hiring a certified arborist.

Cutting the Top Off Your Tree Starves It – This makes it prone to rot and can make it a less stable or even hazardous tree. Topping will not keep your tree small and will create a maintenance headache.

Protect the Critical Root Zone of Trees – Most tree roots are within the top two feet of soil, extending well beyond the ends of branches. Building a patio or deck or replacing a sewer line can sever tree roots and eventually kill the tree.

Remove Invasive Plants – English ivy is a noxious weed. As it grows up your tree, it can kill it. Remove the ivy or cut an ivy-free ring around the tree’s base.