Trees in the News
Disease Outbreak Killing Bay Area Trees
A mass tree die back has spread into the East Bay and Peninsula recently, killing native and non-native trees. Though plants of all kinds in California are showing the stress of an extremely dry winter, in at least one tree species, the blackwood acacia, the dieback seems to be the work of fungal pathogens, said […]
Is Mistletoe Harmful to My Tree?
A local arborist provides advice on what to do if you find mistletoe growing in your tree. Traverso Tree Service in Martinez developed a pamphlet on things to consider when you observe mistletoe growing in your tree. Once mistletoe infests your tree, you can’t eradicate it, but you can control it. Trees with extensive infestations […]
Miami Beach Replacing Palms with Shade Trees
City to plant shadier trees to preserve its environment, keep people cool, reduce urban warming and improve air quality. The Guardian reports that Miami Beach has become a world leader in mitigating the effects of sea-level rise. Now the subtropical Florida city is cutting back on its famous swaying palm trees as it seeks shadier […]
Knock on Wood
What does this expression mean and where did it originate? David Bellamy, Solano County Master Gardener, researched this question and published his story in Under the Solano Sun, the weekly blog of seasonal observations by our local Master Gardeners. Click here to read the story. Photo courtesy of Flying Deer Nature Center, Chatham NY. More […]
Google Launches New Tool to Keep Cities Cool
Google’s Tree Canopy Lab identifies the location of every tree in a city and maps out where trees are needed most. Google unvieled Tree Canopy Lab today, featuring its pilot application for the City of Los Angeles. Data for hundreds more cities is on the way, the company says. The hope is that cities will […]
Restoring California’s Trees in the Age of Fire
How scientists are making sure increasingly powerful fires do not wipe out forests forever. Last spring, a tree-planting crew hiked into the hills near Paradise, California, to take on a challenge: What’s the best way to replant a forest when it’s vrey likely that it could burn again? In April, Austin Rempel, senior manager of […]
U.S. Joins Trillion Trees Initiative
President forms Unitied States One Trillion Trees Interagency Council. Early this year, the World Economic Forum launched a global initiative to grow, restore and conserve 1 trillion trees around the world in a bid to restore biodiverstiy and help fight climate change. This project aims to unite governments, non-governmental organizations, businesses and individuals in a […]
Restore Native Forests to Help Fight Climate Change
Conserving and restoring native forests is more effective in absorbing CO2 than planting tree plantations. Click here to read a recent article posted by the Native Plant Conservation Campaign that compares tree planting efforts to absorb carbon and combat climate change with efforts to conserve existing forests.