Summer is fruit season in the Willamette Valley. We are known around the world for the variety and quality of the tree fruits that are grown here. What makes our tree fruit so spectacular? The winters are cold enough to ensure fruit set, the summers are warm enough to sweeten our fruits, and the long growing season extends the harvest.... Read More
Summers in the Portland area are dry with periods of soaring temperatures. Your carefully planted trees need a little extra care in summer as they become established. Newly planted trees require extra water for the first couple of summers in their new location to prevent drought stress and promote development of a healthy root system. We recommend twice weekly deep... Read More
Warm summer weather draws us outside for a stroll under the cool, shaded canopy of trees. The forested acres of Tryon Creek State Natural Area provide the perfect nearby respite from the heat. Once you enter the 658 forested, serene acres in southwest Portland, it is hard to believe that you are in the middle of a large city, mere... Read More
National Arbor Day is celebrated throughout the country on the last Friday in April as a way to recognize the beauty and benefits of trees in our communities. In Oregon, we love trees so much, that we have committed the entire first week of April to tree celebration! From art contests to nature walks to nature crafting, local communities engage... Read More
On a recent rare sunny winter day, For The Love Of Trees teamed up with Friends of Trees to plant native trees and shrubs along the Tualatin river. This project was designed to improve water quality and habitat. Dozens of community members turned out to plant several species under the guidance of the volunteer crew leaders. After breakfast treats and... Read More
After a long, dark winter, the swelling buds on bare branches foretell the coming of an eagerly anticipated spring for many Portland area residents. A bud is an undeveloped part of the plant. Flower buds become blossoms, whereas growth buds develop into shoots. Growth buds are the teardrop-shaped parts of the tree where new growth occurs. A branch grows longer... Read More
January 25, 2018
By Sarah Fry
Tree Anatomy
Now that the leaves have fallen from deciduous trees, this is a great time to admire an often-overlooked part of tree anatomy: the bark. Bark Function Bark serves several crucial functions for the tree. Inner bark transports nutrients throughout the tree. Unintentional girdling of a tree with staking materials or ropes causes severe damage to the tree by preventing this... Read More
Portland-area winter storms can bring strong winds, ice and wet snow that take a heavy toll on our urban forest. Strong winds uproot entire trees from rain-saturated soils. Large branches, weighed down by heavy, wet snow break and either fall or are hung up in the canopy. More pliant trees and shrubs bend low to the ground under the weight... Read More
A Chinese proverb says “The best time to plant a tree was twenty years ago. The next best time is now.” Trees shade your home, beautify the landscape, prevent soil erosion and increase property values. It takes many years for a tree to mature, so planting a tree now is a long-term investment in your home, community and environment. Planting... Read More
Below are the fall tree care recommendations from For The Love Of Trees’ staff of ISA (International Society of Arboriculture) Certified Arborists. Remove dead or diseased wood before the winter storm season sets in. Dead wood is easier to identify when the leaves are still on deciduous trees because dead wood does not produce leaves. Clearance prune trees while the... Read More
