Be a Tree Hugger! Earth Day 2016

4/22/2016

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Happy Earth Day! Help us celebrate by hugging a tree! We'll send you an official Tree Hugger t-shirt* when you:

Like & Share our Facebook post, and
Send us a photo of yourself hugging a tree!

Sorry, this promotion ended 4/25/16!

10 Reasons to Hug a Tree

Trees combat the climate change
Excess carbon dioxide (CO2) caused by many factors is a building up in our atmosphere and contributing to climate change. Trees absorb CO2, removing and storing the carbon while releasing the oxygen back into the air. In one year, an acre of mature trees absorbs the amount of CO2 produced when you drive your car 26,000 miles.
Trees clean the air
Trees absorb odors and pollutant gases (nitrogen oxides, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and ozone) and filter particulates out of the air by trapping them on their leaves and bark.
Trees provide oxygen
In one year an acre of mature trees can provide enough oxygen for 18 people.
Trees cool the streets and city
Trees cool the city by up to 10°F, by shading our homes and streets, breaking up urban “heat islands” and releasing water vapor into the air through their leaves.
Trees create economic opportunities
Fruit harvested from community orchards can be sold, thus providing income. Small business opportunities in green waste management and landscaping arise when cities value mulching and its water-saving qualities. Vocational training for youth interested in green jobs is also a great way to develop economic opportunities from trees.
Trees help prevent soil erosion
On hillsides or stream slopes, trees slow runoff and hold soil in place.
Trees increase business traffic
Studies show that the more trees and landscaping a business district has, the more business will flow in. A tree-lined street will also slow traffic – enough to allow the drivers to look at the store fronts instead of whizzing by.
Trees increase property values
The beauty of a well-planted property and its surrounding street and neighborhood can raise property values by as much as 15 percent.
Trees provide a canopy and habitat for wildlife
Sycamore and oak are among the many urban species that provide excellent urban homes for birds, bees, possums and squirrels.
Trees prevent water pollution
Trees reduce runoff by breaking rainfall thus allowing the water to flow down the trunk and into the earth below the tree. This prevents stormwater from carrying pollutants to the ocean. When mulched, trees act like a sponge that filters this water naturally and uses it to recharge groundwater supplies.

Source: treepeople.org

* One t-shirt per tree hugger. Limit two t-shirts per household. Contest open to residents of Omaha and surrounding communities.

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Time to Plant: Part 3 - Plant it Right!

4/8/2016

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This is part three of our tree planting blog series. If you've been following along, you've learned how to select a location and a suitable species for your yard (Part 1), and how to purchase a quality tree from a nursery (Part 2). Now let us help you learn how to plant your tree correctly so that it grows into a strong, healthy, long-living tree!

We thought about writing our own original content for this part of the series, but why reinvent the wheel? The US Forest Service has a great 12-step guide to installing your new tree (with lots of pictures!) Click below to get started!

Also, scroll down for some "gory" photos of poorly planted trees. OUCH!

Click Here

(Navigate to Page 5)

Important Items to Note:

Avoid trunk damage. When moving your tree, do not damage the trunk. Even small wounds can lead to permanent damage!
Mulch conservatively. Never mulch deeper than 2-3" so that oxygen can still be delivered to the root system. The guide says 4", but we believe less is more.
Prune minimally. Don't prune branches unless they are broken or dead. You can also remove a competing leader, but avoid pruning for aesthetics until the second or third year to prevent shock.
Identify girdling roots and other root issues. Girdling roots should be addressed and severed before planting. If you are unsatisfied with the root structure and feel you have purchased a poor quality tree, take it back! You deserve better!
The hole is everything! "Don't put a $100 tree in a $10 hole." The importance of the dimensions of the hole shouldn't be taken lightly. Find the root flare and be careful NOT to bury it. Your tree should not look like a light pole sticking out of the ground. Planting a tree too deeply may seem like a good idea and that you're giving it added support, but it is extremely harmful to the tree.
Stake only when necessary. Staking is now a fairly controversial practice. If your tree is very large and top heavy, causing it to be unstable, staking may be necessary. But if you're planting a smaller tree (which you are, RIGHT?!) you probably don't need to stake. Remember that a tree that is given the freedom to move slightly in the wind will develop a stronger structure in the long run. If you must stake, do it properly, and remember to remove it after 1-2 years.