Blog

Dormancy Onset In Trees

October 16, 2019 By , ,

The nights are quickly becoming longer in the northern hemisphere and the average temperatures are dropping, triggering dormancy in trees. Dormancy is a winter weather survival mechanism in which tree shoot growth is significantly reduced to protect soft tissues from freezing temperatures. In the fall, the decreasing daylight triggers the production of abscisic acid, a hormone that impedes growth. Abscisic... Read More

For The Love Of Trees Arborists Help Out At Hoyt Arboretum

September 17, 2019 By

For years, the arborists of For The Love Of Trees have volunteered their time and expertise to care for the trees of the Hoyt Arboretum. Every September, arborists from across the Portland area work together on tree care projects all over the 190 acre arboretum in an event called “Arborists in the Arboretum”. This year, For The Love Of Trees... Read More

Tree Sunburn

July 25, 2019 By , ,

The sunny, clear days of Oregon summers send us scampering for shade to protect our delicate skin from dangerous UV rays. Trees can be damaged by the sun too. The mature cherry tree seen above has a sealed sunburn wound. When the amount of direct sunlight the tree receives abruptly increases, the extra heat and radiation can damage the nutrient-exchanging... Read More

Preventing Drought Stress In Established Trees

June 19, 2019 By , ,

Summers in the Portland area are very dry. While the dry weather is often blissful for the waterlogged human residents who endured the past eight months of rainfall, our trees can suffer drought stress. Drought stress occurs when limited access to water interferes with the tree’s normal growth processes. Drought stress can limit root growth, limit tree growth due to... Read More

Stroll Among The Trees and Shrubs at the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden

May 6, 2019 By , , ,

Located just minutes from downtown Portland near Reed College, the Crystal Springs Rhododendron Garden is a riot of color in the spring. The botanical garden has over nine acres of spectacular specimens of rhododendron and azalea planted alongside Crystal Springs Lake, which is fed by the property’s natural springs. The meandering paths that take you across bridges and alongside waterfalls... Read More

Tree Anatomy: Flowers

April 22, 2019 By , ,

Spring in the Portland area is accented with explosions of color on flowering trees and shrubs such as the flowering cherry, flowering plum, magnolia, and camellia. These tell-tale signs of spring are not only beautiful, they function as the crucial reproductive system of the flowering plants (angiosperms). In angiosperm reproduction, pollen is produced by the male organ and is transferred... Read More

Oregon Arbor Week 2019

April 5, 2019 By ,

Oregon celebrates the beauty and benefits of trees for the first full week of April every year. Our local communities show their tree appreciation through activities geared for the whole family. A select few are listed below. How will you celebrate the trees in your community? Beaverton will host an Arbor Day tree planting on April 6th. Lake Oswego celebrates... Read More

Nuisance Trees

March 11, 2019 By ,

When recommending a tree to plant, we go by the guideline, “Right tree, right place”.  Many tree species are well suited to the right setting, but there are a few trees that we don’t recommend anywhere. Some of these trees are listed on the Nuisance Tree Lists of several local municipalities. The English Holly, seen above, is considered invasive and... Read More