The Leaflet — January 2012 by Casey Trees

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JANUARY 2012

CASEY TREES TURNS

CASEY TREES NEWS IN BRIEF

Founding Casey Trees board member Maud McKenna Brown dies at age 96 By Nan King, President, Casey Trees Board of Directors | Maud McKenna Brown, a founding member of the Casey Trees Governing Board, died at age 96 at her residence in Georgetown. Mrs. Brown was born and educated in Brisbane, Queensland, Australia. After graduating from All Souls College, she was employed as staff assistant at the Matson Lines, an American transpacific shipping service. During World War II, the U.S. Forces employed her to keep track of the location of all the U.S. ships in the Pacific region. She then was employed by the U.S. Army in Tokyo, Japan, serving as secretary for Army General Courtney Whitney and as principal aide to General Douglas MacArthur for three years. She married Richard G. Brown in 1949 and became an American citizen when they settled in Washington. A member of the Georgetown Garden Club, Maud received numerous awards from the club for her involvement in civic affairs and conservation. She was the initiator of the Annual Georgetown Tree Box competition. Maud also served as a Zone VI Director to the Garden Club of America. As a member of the Board of Casey Trees, she brought a perspective built on leadership, creativity and a sense of what ought to be. She was diligent in her service and when she was no longer on the Board, she always made sure she knew how the organization was succeeding in its mission to restore, enhance and protect D.C.’s tree canopy. Maud is survived by her devoted husband of sixty-three years.

CASEY TREES NEWS TREE REBATES INCREASE DURING FALL PLANTING SEASON | Fall is the best time to plant trees and many District residents took advantage of Casey Trees’ Tree Rebate program in 2011, which pays up to $100 per tree planted in D.C. From August to December 2011, when funding for the program was renewed by the District Department of the Environment,Casey Trees authorized 84 rebates. CALL FOR DISTRICT TREE PLANTING NUMBERS | If you are associated with an organization that planted trees in the District in 2011, please contact Tom Buckley, Director of Technical Services & Research, by email or at 202.349.1909, with the details of the plantings so we can include your efforts in the annual Tree Report Card tree planting tally. The Fourth Annual Tree Report Card will be released on April 27.

2011 VOLUNTEER ACCOMPLISHMENTS | This year was a record year for volunteering at 2

Casey Trees. In two Community Tree Planting (CTP) seasons, more than 2,800 adult and youth volunteers donated nearly $170,000 worth of service hours. Many more volunteers helped with other projects such as pruning and watering. SPRING COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING SEASON PREVIEW | At the end of November, Casey Trees received a record 66 CTP applications for the spring 2012 season. Of those, 53 were accepted, including 27 schools. Some of the projects will feature cherry trees sponsored by the National Cherry Blossom Festival. The season will run from March 3 to April 28. CASEY TREES PLANTS 24 TREES WITH MI CASA | Through Casey Trees’ RiverSmart Homes Shade Tree program, 24 trees were planted at several newly built houses in the Ivy City neighborhood of Ward 5. The homes were built by Mi Casa, Inc., a local nonprofit that provides affordable sustainable housing to low- and moderate-income people.

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WINTER/SPRING TOPICS SET FOR TREE TALK THURSDAYS | Discussion topics have been set for the winter/spring line-up of Tree Talk Thursdays, Casey Trees’ free online chat forum. Jan. 12 — American elms: Returning a classic to D.C.’s streets Feb. 9 — Treescaping: Designing, building with trees in mind March 8 – Bearing Fruit: Planting urban orchards April 12 – Made for D.C.: Ideal trees to plant in the nation’s capital May 10 – Fourth Annual Tree Report Card: Assessing D.C.’s tree canopy June 14 — Tree Spotting: Finding D.C.’s tree gems July 12 — Bugs and Pests: The good, bad and ugly

URBAN FORESTRY NEWS NEW MAP SHOWS FUTURE UFA STREET TREE PLANTINGS | Check out a new interactive map from the Urban Forestry Administration to find 2012 street tree plantings in your neighborhood.

D.C. HOLIDAY GREENERY RECYCLING | In Washington, D.C., holiday trees and wreaths collection will run Jan. 3 to Jan. 14. Make sure to remove all decorations and place the greenery in the treebox space in front of your home between Monday, Jan. 2, and Monday, Jan. 9. Do not put the trees in plastic or cloth bags. Trees collected will be recycled. Note that trees placed on the curb after Jan. 14 will be picked up by trash trucks as space allows and will NOT be recycled. NFL’S PACKERS TEAMS WITH STATE TO PLANT TREES | The Green Bay Packers and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources have joined forces to create an initiative that will help the Green Bay’s Brown County meet its urban forestry and community goals. The program, called First Down for Trees, will plant a tree for every Packer’s first down this season, which totals about 1,000 new trees throughout the county. The initiative serves as a part of a larger goal to improve the quality of the water entering the bay.

IN THIS ISSUE... FROM THE DESK: 10TH ANNIVERSARY................................................................................................. 4-5 FALL TREE PLANTING RECAP...................................................................................................................... 6 Q&A WITH ALEX TORRES............................................................................................................................. 7 The University of Maryland-College Park masters student discusses her D.C. tree mortality thesis.

UFA REORGANIZATION ACT UPDATE.......................................................................................................... 8 MCCLEAN GARDENS SUSTAINABLE SITES PLAN..................................................................................... 9 Casey Trees has developed a plan to help the upper northwest neighborhood control its stormwater.

WINTER 2012 CLASS SCHEDULE.............................................................................................................. 10 CITIZEN FORESTER UPDATE...................................................................................................................... 11 SPOTLIGHT: CITIZEN FORESTER JOHN CLARY....................................................................................... 12 GIVING: WHAT’S YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTION?.............................................................................. 13 WINTER TREE PREPARATION.................................................................................................................... 14 From proper pruning techniques to ivy removal, take advantage of the winter dormancy.

ARBOR KIDS................................................................................................................................................. 15 theleaflet | January 2012

From the Desk Ten years and more than 10,000 trees later... Looking back on Casey Trees’ first 10 years, I’m humbled and honored to be part of such a focused, resilient and successful organization. We owe that success to the dedicated individuals who have given their time and talents: our board of directors; staff; public- and private-sector partners; and most of all, the thousands of Citizen Foresters and volunteers who help us every day by making their neighborhoods greener and more vibrant for generations to come. But the single most important reason for our success is that our founder, Betty Brown Casey, created an organization that allows MARK BUSCAINO us the flexibility to experiment — and dream EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR – about how to accomplish our mission to restore, enhance and protect the tree canopy of the nation’s capital. And dream we have. Over the years, we have tested, reinvented, discarded and embraced dozens of programs and activities so we can plant trees, educate citizens, monitor the health and extent of the city’s trees, keep track of efforts to sustain the tree canopy and many other initiatives. One bittersweet example of this was our GreenTech program. When it started more than seven years ago, GreenTech set out to engage and teach D.C. public high school students about the hightech world of trees and urban forest science. Unfortunately the program never took. This difficult experience, however, eventually transformed into a successful program that engages hundreds of middle- and grade-school students and dozens of schools, resulting in the

planting of hundreds of trees on school campuses every year. As an offshoot, this summer, with a generous gift from the Share Fund, we were able to pilot our Arbor Kids On The Go program, which taught more than 1,200 children about the importance of trees in their neighborhoods across D.C.! This is but one of many stories of program trial, failure and success that we have experienced at Casey Trees since our founding, and we invite you to celebrate those experiences with us for this our 10th anniversary year. Apply for a Community Tree Planting event in your neighborhood; sign up for a tree tour and learn about the dozens of species that grace the city; take a few classes on urban trees and become a Citizen Forester; sponsor a visiting environmental educator who’ll be attending our education conference this summer; plant a tree in your yard through the RiverSmart Homes Shade Tree program; or make a donation of your choice to help support one of our many programs and activities. At Casey Trees we know all too well that it takes a city to raise a tree, and with your support, we know that Washington, D.C. will remain, as it has been for over a century, The City of Trees. Regards,

Mark Buscaino Executive Director

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Tree Planting Casey Trees added nearly 700 trees this fall through tree planting programs Fall 2011 featured another busy line-up for the Tree Planting department at Casey Trees. Nearly 700 trees total were planted through Casey Trees’ two largest planting programs: Community Tree Planting (CTP) and RiverSmart Homes.

COMMUNITY TREE PLANTING PROGRAM Casey Trees staff and nearly 1,000 adult and youth volunteers planted 439 trees this fall at 30 CTP events across the District. The season’s tree planting initiatives represent a financial investment in the nation’s capital totaling more than $182,000, including 2,300 hours of volunteer labor. Of note, the fall CTP season featured eight tree plantings at D.C. schools where more than 150 students from grades K-12 added 44 trees to and surrounding their campuses. Students also participated in Tree Rallies leading up to their planting date to learn about the many benefits trees provide and how to properly handle and plant trees.

Hill Montessori School, Developing Families Center and the McLean Gardens neighborhood. Sponsors of the fall CTP season include The Charitable Foundation of the Energy Bar Association (Capitol Quarter), Capitol Hill Community Foundation (Capitol Hill Montessori School) and Washington Nationals Dream Foundation (Chamberlain Elementary Friendship Public Charter School). The Starbucks Coffee Company provided in-kind donations of coffee at select CTP events.

RIVERSMART HOMES SHADE TREE PROGRAM The tree planting crew added 257 trees through RiverSmart Homes Shade Tree program, Casey Trees’ residential planting program. Ward 4 received the most trees — 141 — and the most commonly planted species last season were river birch, yellowwood and sweetbay magnolia. If you are thinking about adding trees to your property or neighborhood, learn more our tree planting programs to determine which is best for you.

Additionally, Casey Trees expanded its fruit tree plantings, adding 39 trees to five sites including the U.S. National Arboretum’s Washington Youth Garden, Green SEED Community Garden, Capitol

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Technology & Research University of Maryland Masters student discusses D.C.’s urban tree mortality Alex Torres’ masters thesis focuses on tree mortality in the District and how it is affected by a city’s environmental and socioeconomic properties. The University of Maryland-College Park student talked with Casey Trees about her findings. Q: What made you choose Casey Trees as a partner in your project? A: I have always had a passion for applied environmental science and the use of scientific solutions in helping to foster community improvement. I was impressed with Casey Trees and the work that this organization has achieved in such a short period of time. I believe the large body of data they have collected and their creation of a long-term tree condition and mortality study have the potential to offer immense insight in creating sustainable planting programs. Q: What are your goals for the project? A: There were three main components or goals that comprised my thesis project. The first goal was to use tree condition data to establish a baseline rate of mortality that would be used as a starting point. The second was to create management recommendations based on a set of pre-planting, environmental and socioeconomic variables. The final goal of this research was to examine ecological benefits — including carbon storage and sequestration, pollution abatement and structural values — associated with newly planted trees to help support education outreach and/or serve as

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a means of garnering additional support for tree planting programs. Q: What factors did you find were most important to tree planting programs? A: When analyzing the data, seven of the eight factors assessed had a significant effect on tree condition and mortality. These factors included jurisdiction, nursery, space type, year, season, genera and land use. Time of planting is a critical pre-planting management consideration. Based on this study, in Washington, D.C., the best time to plant a tree is fall and early winter months. Once planting is complete, differences in the area surrounding a tree (i.e., land use, socioeconomics) need to be addressed, as these factors have been show to have a significant effect on new tree success. Q: Which ones were difficult to analyze? A: Nursery had a significant effect on tree mortality (with a wide range of difference in success between nurseries); however, statistical interpretation was limited because of unknown information and the inability to easily obtain the information. The jurisdictional data seemed to strongly overlap with the land use data, with the effects of these factors on tree condition and mortality thought to be related to care and intensity of use associated with a particular planting area. Want to know more about Casey Trees’ Technical Services & Research department? Find out more online.

Advocacy D.C. Council to vote on new tree legislation in March 2012 On Dec. 7, Casey Trees Executive Director Mark Buscaino testified before the D.C. Council’s Committee on Environment, Public Works and Transportation on the Urban Forestry Administration Reorganization Act (UFARA) of 2011. The bill, introduced by Councilmember Phil Mendelson, attempts to address several shortcomings of the Urban Forest Preservation Act (UFPA) of 2002, also authored by Mendelson. While Casey Trees applauds Mendelson and the Committee for focusing much needed attention to protecting the District’s urban forest, Casey Trees has proposed seven modifications to UFARA including shifting management and enforcement of the UFPA and the Tree fund from the Urban Forest Administration-District Department of Transportation (UFA-DDOT) to the District Department of the Environment (DDOE). Casey Trees does not support the wholesale transfer of the UFA and its street tree management responsibilities from DDOT to DDOE as currently proposed.

to discuss the UFARA, changes proposed by Casey Trees and other thoughts that have surfaced since the hearing took place. If passed with the recommendations Casey Trees is advocating for, the tree canopy of the District of Columbia will benefit greatly and attainment of the District’s 40 percent canopy goal will be within reach. We therefore urge you, if you have not done so already, to call and/or send the committee’s five members — Mary M. Cheh, Yvette Alexander, Muriel Bowser, Jim Graham and Tommy Wells — and UFARA’s sponsor, Phil Mendelson, letters of support. The final bill is expected to be voted on by the end of March 2012. Thank you for your support! Register online for our Citizen Forester-qualifying course “Stand Up for Trees” on Feb. 4 to learn how you can become an advocate for the District’s urban forest.

Following three hours of testimony by supporters of Casey Trees’ recommendations, UFA-DDOT and DDOE representatives and other concerned citizens and business owners, Committee Chair Councilmember Mary M. Cheh called for a working group comprised largely of D.C. agency staffers, a group of private/non-profit stakeholders and council staff to meet the second week of January

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Planning + Design Casey Trees unveils McLean Gardens Sustainable Site Plan Stormwater runoff is the fastest growing source of pollution in the Potomac River Watershed, and one local community is working with Casey Trees to reduce its stormwater impact. McLean Gardens is a 23-acre condominium development in upper northwest D.C., with 31 garden apartment buildings that date back to 1941. The development is situated on hilly terrain with a mature tree canopy, creating an idyllic, green setting not often found in the city. However, looks can be deceiving and even places that appear green can have negative environmental impacts. Of the three main types of impervious surfaces, two are obvious: rooftops and transportation infrastructure like roads and driveways. The third — damaged urban soil — is less apparent. During construction, soil can become compacted and sites are often leveled off, removing porous, healthy topsoil and replacing it with lower-grade material that cannot absorb as much water. Although lawn, plantings and tree canopy make up more than half of McLean Gardens’ grounds, impaired soils and steep slopes limit the ability to absorb stormwater on site, creating runoff that flows into local rivers and streams. In addition, the vast majority of the 500+ downspouts that drain McLean Gardens’ rooftops connect to the stormwater system, which discharges directly into the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers. In 2009, DC Water and the District Department of the Environment instituted impervious surface fees for property owners. These fees have gone up in

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both of the proceeding years and will continue to grow as the District works to meet its stormwater requirements under the EPA’s stormwater permitting system. The District will increasingly hold property owners accountable for their share of the bill. If McLean Gardens makes no changes, it estimates its fees could rise from $10,000 in 2011 to $123,000 in 2018. In response, the community is proactively seeking ways to decrease the environmental and financial costs of its stormwater runoff. The McLean Gardens Sustainable Site Plan (MGSSP) will be an ambitious yet achievable strategy to address these issues and enhance the quality of life that attracts people to the community. The plan will focus on opportunities for low-impact development (LID) such as rain barrels, rain gardens, swales, pervious pavers and conservation landscaping that will help manage stormwater on site and beautify the grounds. Although the focus is on stormwater, the planning process will also provide an opportunity for residents to discuss other aspects of sustainable living such as recreation, aesthetics and alternative transportation and will allow residents to express their long-term vision for how the community should evolve. At Casey Trees, we are excited about this opportunity to focus on trees in LID. Trees are key in creating sustainable sites, communities and cities as they provide a host of ecosystem services, aesthetic value and community benefits. Visit the Planning + Design department online to see what else the team is working on.

Education Winter 2012 class schedule features range of forestry topics Whether it is your New Year’s resolution or simply your curiosity, learning more about trees and D.C.’s urban forest is easy with Casey Trees’ continuing education courses. Register online for one or more of the classes below. In-the-field opportunities include a pruning

JANUARY

workshop on Jan. 14 and a tree tour by foot in Rock Creek Park on March 10. All other classes will be held indoors at Casey Trees’ headquarters in Brookland. Information for Citizen Forester-qualifying classes is on the next page.

FEBRUARY

MARCH

What’s Bugging D.C.?: Our Urban Forest Pests

Tree Tour — Winter ID: Trees in Transition

Rick Turcotte, Entomologist, U.S. Forest Service Wed., Feb. 8, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th St. NE

Melanie Choukas-Bradley, Author of City of Trees Sat., March 10, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Rock Creek Park Rock Creek Trail and Beach Dr. NW

Barry Stahl, the man responsible for growing and nurturing the stock of American elms that the National Park Service plants on its lands, will provide tree pruning instruction and the methods that encourage healthy structural development. Put your new skills to the test at during the class’ field component.

Rick Turcotte will provide an overview of the major pests threatening D.C.’s urban forest and discuss the vulnerability of our tree population. Particular attention will be paid to the emerald ash borer (EAB) and the implications of D.C.’s recent EAB quarantine.

Join us for a winter walk in the Boundary Bridge area of Rock Creek Park on the Maryland-D.C. border. Observe the many native trees that are easily identifiable in winter — sycamores, river birches, tulip poplars and boxelders — and some head scratchers that put identification skills to the test.

Trees 201: ID and Selection

Lincoln Smith, Founder, Forester, LLC Wed., Feb. 22, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th St. NE

Pruning Workshop Barry Stahl, Horticulturist, National Park Service Sat., Jan. 14, 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Daingerfield Island Marina Dr. and George Washington Pkwy., Alexandria, Va.

Casey Trees Staff Sat., Jan. 28, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th St. NE This course features more in-depth training on tree identification and issues facing D.C.’s trees. Learn a tree’s year-round outstanding characteristics, limitations or tolerances in urban conditions and societal contexts. NOTE: This course is geared toward Citizen Foresters, CTP Project Organizers and others interested in building tree identification skills and selecting the right tree for the right place. 10

Forest Gardens

Learn about an exciting way of producing what people need in healthy ecosystems. Modeled on a young natural woodland, a forest garden can produce food ranging from herbs, vegetables and greens to flour for bread. Besides food, forest gardens can also produce wood and other fiber for building, crafts and fuel.

Remarkable Trees of Virginia Jeff Kirwan, Co-author of Remarkable Trees of Virginia Fri., March 23, 6:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th St. NE Kirwan will mix science, history, literature and beautiful photographs to celebrate some of Virginia’s venerable trees, highlighting those that were living during important events in American history, including the founding of Jamestown, the French and Indian War and the Civil War.

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Citizen Forester Update News for Casey Trees’ Citizen Foresters PRUNING CLASS ON JAN. 14 | Do you want to become a Citizen Pruner in 2012? To achieve that status, individuals must complete three pruning classes or workshops, so why not start early and join us at Daingerfield Island in Alexandria on Jan. 14 for a pruning workshop. Barry Stahl, horticulturist for the National Park Service’s American elm nursery, will lead a demonstration on proper pruning techniques.

2011 CITIZEN FORESTER APPRECIATION PARTY | On Dec. 10, Casey Trees hosted 103 Citizen Foresters at its Brookland headquarters to celebrate their accomplishments and the end of the fall Community Tree Planting (CTP) season. Citizen Foresters helped make 2011 a record year for the CTP program. Thank you again!

WINTER 2012 CITIZEN FORESTER-QUALIFYING COURSES Trees 101

Stand Up for Trees

Tree Planting

Casey Trees Staff Sat., Jan. 21, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th St. NE

Casey Trees Staff Sat., Feb. 4, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Casey Trees Headquarters 3030 12th St. NE

Casey Trees Staff Sat., March 3, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. National Zoo Visitor’s Center 3100 Connecticut Ave. NW

Get to know D.C.’s trees. This course provides a foundation in tree anatomy, identification and an overview of how trees function to provide the benefits we enjoy in the urban forest. A street tree identification walk led by Casey Trees staff will follow.

Take action and advocate for trees in your community. Learn what tools are available through the District’s municipal services, hear success stories and receive advice from community members who have onthe-ground experience in effectively increasing tree canopy in their neighborhoods.

Learn to select and prepare a tree planting site, choose appropriate species and properly plant trees to ensure survival. We cover the techniques critical to maintaining urban tree health, including mulching, watering and pruning. After lunch, participants will plant trees to test their new skills.

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Spotlight Citizen Forester John Clary John Clary wanted to know the difference between scarlet and pin oaks. In fall 2010, the first-year Citizen Forester took a forest ecology class with some people who had volunteered with Casey Trees. They told him about the Casey Trees’ street tree map and that’s where he started his search. After learning more about Casey Trees, he enrolled in Trees 101 in February 2011 and attended a few pruning events during the summer. The 27-year-old Shaw resident grew up near Chicago and moved to the District in 2008 for work. Some of his fondest tree memories include rope swings, tree houses, and diving platforms. As an adult living in the District, Clary realizes trees offer more than just recreational benefits. “Without our shade trees, we couldn’t survive the brutal D.C. summers,” he said.

It’s humbling to think that a tree you’ve planted has the potential to survive well beyond your own lifetime. That’s a longterm investment in your community. of the Community Tree Planting program is what makes him excited for next season. “The opportunity to see new parts of the city and meet other tree enthusiasts, including the outstanding Casey Trees staff, has been most enjoyable,” he said. D.C.’s trees mean a lot to Clary, who testified in a D.C. Council public hearing in December on the Urban Forestry Administration Reorganization Act of 2011. Again, community is at the heart of Clary’s service. “It’s humbling to think that a tree you’ve planted has the potential to survive well beyond your own lifetime,” Clary said. “That’s a long-term investment in your community.” Do you want to become a Citizen Forester? Find out more about this winter’s three Citizen Forester-qualifying classes on page 11 and register online.

Clary enjoys waking up on Saturdays to plant — do not forget the coffee! — but the community aspect

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Giving A new year and a new way to think about your 2012 resolution We’ve all got one. Even if we tell ourselves we don’t, we do. It’s the annual New Year’s resolution. You know — the lose-weight-quit-smoking-exercise-more aspiration that lasted just a few weeks last year before the temptation and stresses of everyday life set in? Yes, that one. Well this year, why not try something different? More and more people are trading in their yearly self-improvement resolutions, and instead are looking to make the New Year a charitable one. Think about giving your New Year’s resolution a much-needed makeover and add “giving back” to your list of goals for 2012. It’s an easy goal to keep and more times than not can give you the personal satisfaction those hours on a treadmill could not. At Casey Trees we have a number of opportunities that can help you achieve your New Year’s resolution, and at the same time help our city and your neighbors. Here are a few ways for you to reach your 2012 charitable goal: • Donate/Become a Sponsor. As a nonprofit, Casey Trees relies on the generosity of people like you to add trees to our city’s parks, schools and neighborhoods throughout the year. Consider making a tax-deductible donation this year. You can also make a larger gift and

sponsor a Tree Planting event ($2,500) or one of our High School Summer Crew members ($4,000) and make a difference in a young person’s life. • Volunteer. Casey Trees offers volunteer opportunities for people of all ages and skill levels from our tree planting events in the spring and fall, to our tree care programs, and advocacy work. Those looking to become more engaged should consider becoming a Citizen Forester. You can register for our volunteer events online through our events calendar. • Take a Class. Casey Trees hosts free, yearround educational courses on topics ranging from basic tree biology to proper tree care to community advocacy. Three classes also qualify you to be a Citizen Forester. So join Casey Trees this New Year and make 2012 — and our nation’s capital — a success. Donations are accepted securely online or via mail. Make your donation today.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU FROM CASEY TREES From all of us at Casey Trees, we want to send a special thank you to all of our friends and allies who made contributions in 2011. With the help of their generosity, Casey Trees was able to plant more trees, engage more volunteers and educate more citizens than in any previous year since our inception a decade ago. This truly banner year was only made possible because of our loyal supporters, whose donations throughout 2011 went towards our record-setting tree planting and education initiatives — so again, we say thank you.

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Tree Care Prune, remove ivy and prep your trees for winter precipitation The winter months may bring a cold chill to the air, but they also provide the perfect opportunity to care for our woody friends. Deciduous trees shed their leaves and fall dormant during the winter months, allowing for easier access to their branches

PRUNING Pruning is best done in the winter when trees are dormant and less vulnerable to disease. Winter pruning also gives trees the entire growing season to heal. Using a pair of pruners, loppers, a hand saw, a pole saw and proper safety gear: Remove dead, dying and crossing branches first. Prune co-dominate branches that compete with the central leader, or main stem.

Using a pair of pruners, loppers, gloves and proper safety gear: Trim close to the ground and cut the ivy in two places — no less than six inches apart — around the trunk. Clear out the middle section and make sure bare trunk is between ivy growing on the tree and ivy on the ground. Let the ivy sit in the tree for two summers before attempting to remove it. Earlier attempts to remove the ivy could damage the tree.

WINTER PRECIPITATION Snow and ice can damage trees by adding excess weight to their branches. Evergreens in particular are vulnerable to damage from stress to the branches.

Prune for structure. Never prune more than 25 percent of the tree’s canopy and always remember to clean tools with anti-bacterial gel between pruning locations on trees to protect them from the spread of disease.

IVY REMOVAL English ivy may be pretty, but it can cause damage when it grows on trees. During the winter months, it is easier to spot the vine’s growth. The goal is to sever the ivy growing up the tree from the ivy on the ground.

To ensure your trees don’t fall victim to a winter storm: Monitor the snow accumulation and clear branches regularly during snowfall. Use a broom or long pole to gently knock the snow from tree branches. Do not wait until after the snow has fallen; damage may have already occurred if enough snow has accumulated. Do you prefer a more hands-on approach to learning? Join us for a pruning workshop on Jan. 4 at Daingerfield Island with Barry Stahl, horticulturist at the National Park Service’s elm nursery.

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Arbor Kids Winter Twig Hunt Search your yard or neighborhood for any fallen twigs or small branches and compare them to the key below. What kind of trees are near your house?

RED OAK

AMERICAN HORNBEAM AMERICAN BEECH

AMERICAN ELM RED MAPLE AMERICAN BASSWOOD

GINGKO SUGAR MAPLE theleaflet | January 2012

TULIP POPLAR