English ivy (Hedera spp.) is a non-native plant that was first introduced to the Pacific Northwest as a horticultural plant, but has since spread by seed to dominate huge swaths of our forests and urban gardens. The state of Oregon defines the woody, evergreen English ivy as a noxious weed. This invasive species forms dense mats on the forest floor... Read More
Our dry northwest summers motivate many urban gardeners to water their trees to excess. Overwatering is a common cause of urban tree decline. When excess water displaces oxygen in the root zone over long periods of saturation, the roots will suffocate and die. Determining the right amount of water, not too much or too little, for your established trees involves... Read More
Lichen-covered trees are a common site in forests and backyards of the Pacific Northwest, and are most conspicuous during the wet winter months when the branches of deciduous trees are bare. Lichen are made up of a fungus and a photosynthetic partner that work together to form unique species.The fungus provides the structure of the lichen and the photosynthetic partner... Read More
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
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
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
Bare root deciduous trees, like the apple tree shown above, become available from nurseries in late winter. These trees are sold with their roots bare, or not in soil. Although planting in winter weather may be daunting, planting bare root trees now will allow root establishment before the growing season. The fact that you are planting the bare root tree... Read More
Our Portland area is known for its lush urban forest. We gratefully live amongst trees here. Trees and shrubs grow above and around our houses and workplaces. We walk in their shade along sidewalks and on turf. We drive cars and ride bikes under their canopy on the roadways. Caring for urban trees often requires clearance pruning, which removes growth... 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
