Tennessee Greentimes - Summer 2020

VOL. 21/NO. 2

Summer 2020

The Official Publication of The Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association

Pollinator Stewardship and the Green Industry PLUS

Overhead and (Sometimes) Overlooked: Knoxville’s Urban Forester Explores and Explains 10 Years of Change to the City’s Tree Canopy

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VOL. 21/NO. 2 •

The Official Publication of The Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association

COVER STORY Pollinator Stewardship and the Green Industry

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FEATURE STORY Consider How Testing Basics Can Provide Improved Quality, Better Player Experiences and Safer Athletic Fields

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DEPARTMENTS From the President................................................................................................................... 6 TNLA Sponsors........................................................................................................................ 6 Calendar of Events.................................................................................................................. 22 Welcome, New TNLA Members............................................................................................ 22 Index of Advertisers................................................................................................................ 23

On the cover: “Green sweat bee (Augochlorini spp.) visiting blunt mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) flowers.”

Photo credit: Laura Russo

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Summer 2020

FEATURE STORY Overhead and (Sometimes) Overlooked: Knoxville’s Urban Forester Explores and Explains 10 Years of Change to the City’s Tree Canopy

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The Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association serves its members in the industry through education, promotion and representation. The statements and opinions expressed herein are those of the individual authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the association, its staff, or its board of directors, Tennessee GreenTimes, or its editors. Likewise, the appearance of advertisers, or their identification as Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association members, does not constitute an endorsement of the products or services featured in this, past or subsequent issues of this quarterly publication. Copyright ©2020 by the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association.

Tennessee GreenTimes is published quarterly.

Subscriptions are complimentary to members of the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association Third-class postage is paid at Jefferson City, MO. Printed in the U.S.A. Reprints and Submissions: Tennessee GreenTimes allows reprinting of material. Permission requests should be directed to the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association. We are not responsible for unsolicited freelance manuscripts and photographs. Contact the managing editor for contribution information.

Advertising: For display and classified advertising rates and insertions, please contact Leading Edge Communications, LLC, 206 Bridge Street, Franklin, TN 37064, (615) 790-3718, Fax (615) 794-4524.

The Tennessee Greentimes is the official publication of The Tennessee Nursery & Landscape Association, Inc. 115 Lyon Street McMinnville, Tennessee 37110 (931) 473-3951 Fax (931) 473-5883 www.tnla.com Email: mail@tnla.com Published by Leading Edge Communications, LLC 206 Bridge Street Franklin, Tennessee 37064 (615) 790-3718 Fax (615) 794-4524 Email: info@leadingedge communications.com Editors Dr. Bill Klingeman Dr. Amy Fulcher Associate Editors Dr. Nick Gawel Dr. Frank Hale Dr. John Sorochan TNLA Officers President Bert Driver Bert Driver Nursery 1st Vice President Morgan Adcock Scenic Hills Nursery

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2nd Vice President Michael Gallagher Heather Farms Nursery 3rd Vice President Terri Turner Turner & Son’s Nursery

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Secretary-Treasurer Cody Walker Walker Nursery Co. Associate Director Justin Woodlee Tennessee Valley Tractor & Equipment Ex-Officio Jon Flanders Botanico, Inc. Executive Director Louree Walker

tennessee greentimes SUMMER 2020

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From the President Bert Driver

ESSENTIAL? YES, WE ARE ESSENTIAL!

W TNLA Would like to

THANK

the following companies for being

Membership Sponsors GOLD MEMBERSHIP SPONSORS Barky Beaver Mulch & Soil Mix, Inc. Blankenship Farms and Nursery Botanico, Inc. Flower City Nurseries Living Earth Nashville Nashville Landscape Systems, Inc. Nufarm Americas, Inc. Putnals Premium Pine Straw, Inc. Randall Walker Farms Safeguard Nursery Products Swafford Nursery, Inc. Tennessee 811 Tennessee Wholesale Nursery Warren County Nursery, Inc.

SILVER MEMBERSHIP SPONSORS BWI of Memphis Carpe Diem Farms Dayton Bag & Burlap Co. Old Courthouse Nursery Samara Farms Turf Mountain Sod Youngblood Farms 6

tennessee greentimes SUMMER 2020

hen did any of us believe that we would need to argue that we are essential?

The Covid-19 Pandemic has created a new set of rules and new way of approaching government and business. Fortunately, we have people in Tennessee that advocate for our industry and through members of this association, the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, and the Governor’s office they saw to it that we can and will remain open. Had there not been swift action and “general” farm data provided that reflect the impact of agriculture on Tennessee, then perhaps our voices may not have been heard. In brief, I implore each of you to fill out the economic survey sent out last month because without real data on the economic impact of nursery production in this state, we may not get a seat at the table. We saw firsthand how critical data and particular dollar amounts matter when legislative decisions are being made when we faced a challenge to Pyrus calleryana last fall. If we are to continue to be considered essential, then fill out the survey. The survey will close June 5th.

To get a paper copy or a link to complete the survey electronically, contact Susan Schexnayder schexnayder@utk.edu 865.974.5495 or Amy Fulcher afulcher@utk.edu 865.974.7152.

CONTINGENCY PLANS 2020 Green Industry Day — June 16th, 2020 In order to mitigate the spread of COVID-19 TNLA and UT will host a virtual field day. Stay Tuned!

At this point, the TNGIE trade show is still on for September 10–11, 2020 at the Wilson County Expo Center in Lebanon. Many new ideas are afoot and the trade show committee has been working diligently to modify and improve the registration process, education schedule, vendor representation, and an opening night reception. By the way, this is yet another reminder: We need you to help us recruit new members and sell booth space at the trade show. More foot traffic is needed to keep this event going and that is where you, the members, come in. Let everyone know about the date, the location, remind them of how nice the facility is, creative and unique education opportunities, multiple hotel choices, a reception and gala to attend, golf tournament, clay shoot, and the best selection of quality growers anywhere in the nation. We have a lot to be proud of and I hope you can help us market this unique event. Stay tuned to upcoming details which can be found by following our two social media channels on both Facebook www.facebook.com/TNLAMcminnvilleTN and Instagram www.instagram.com/ tnla1905.

It is evident that we are a resourceful and brave bunch of independent horticulturists and farmers, and one of the most impressive aspects of this 100 year old industry is that even though we are competitors, we support each other and through this solidarity, we too shall prevail. Even in these strange times, the nursery industry in Tennessee continues to thrive. If you will stick with the nursery business, it will stick with you.

“To cause worthwhile things to happen which might not have happened without us is one of the major satisfactions of life.” – Harold Butten Respectfully submitted, Bert Driver – President

Cover Story

Pollinator Stewardship and the Green Industry

Figure 1: “American robins rely on hawthorn (Crataegus spp.) fruit, along with other fruit and insects, and in turn they disperse seeds.”

Photo credit: Laura Russo

Trystan Bordeau, UT Extension Intern Amy Fulcher, UT Associate Professor and Extension Specialist – Nursery Production Laura Russo, UT Assistant Professor – Entomology

The

Green Industry benefits in many ways from a healthy pollinator community. For example, plants bearing fruit, such as blueberries, are often preferred by garden center customers. Recognizing the many types of pollinators and identifying practical ways to support them is good for pollinators, good for your clients, and good for your business!

Pollination is an ecosystem service that allows plants to produce seeds and fruit and is essential for plant reproduction.

Pollinators support urban landscapes by fostering fruit production, which in turn helps wildlife thrive (Figure 1). More than 200,000 animal species, including bees, butterflies, bats, and birds, can act as pollinators by moving pollen between flowers (Figure 2). Understanding and adopting pollinator-safe practices during nursery production and in managed landscapes and retail settings has wide-reaching implications for the Green Industry.

Ecosystem Services Definition: Services performed by organisms in the natural environment and functioning ecosystems that positively affect human health and well-being. The 4 main categories of service are producing (food and water), regulating (reducing/preventing flooding), supporting (nutrient cycles, generating oxygen for animals to breathe) and cultural (spiritual connections, recreation).

The potential to affect pollinators through landscape practices entered the public eye following highly publicized bee deaths that appeared connected to a pesticide application in an urban landscape. In response to the increase in public awareness that followed, consumers became more informed and engaged. As a 8

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result, businesses that adopt bee-friendly practices can help reach these Green Consumers: customers who weigh environmental impacts when making purchasing decisions. For proactive businesses, pollinator stewardship is “bee-smart” and business smart!

Did You Know?

The Advanced Tennessee Master Nursery Producer Program has modules on “Understanding Green Consumers”, “IPM”, and “Pollinator Protection”.

Specific Pollinator Support Practices for the Green Industry The following list of tips include specific practices and strategies that garden center, nursery, and landscape businesses can incorporate into their daily tasks and share with their customers. These tips provide a range of options for promoting pollinators regardless of type of business, space, or resources.

Garden Centers: • Provide customers with literature on the importance of pollinators • Engage suppliers in conversations on the importance of pollinator-safe practices • Create signage describing pollinator-friendly practices • Keep plant species that tend to be pest-free available in inventory • Offer weekly discounts on pollinator-friendly plants, such as bee balm (Monarda spp.) (Figure 3) • Emphasize the importance of pollinators during gardening workshops and when hosting school groups

Figure 2: “Green sweat bee (Augochlorini spp.) visiting blunt mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum) flowers.”

Photo credit: Laura Russo

Figure 3: “Bee balm (Monarda spp.) is a popular choice for pollinators and can brighten up a perennial border or native plant garden.”

Figure 4: “Sweat bees forage from a blooming native perennial, butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa). Reducing insecticide drift from production fields to nearby flowering plants reduces exposure risk for pollinators.”

Photo credit: Laura Russo

Photo credit: Laura Russo

Nurseries: • Reduce, refine, or eliminate the use of pesticides where possible, especially when plants are in bloom, to help protect pollinators from accidental exposure • Adopt Integrated Pest Management (IPM) practices to help protect beneficial insects, reduce risk to employees, and save money through more efficient and effective pesticide application • Avoid “calendar spraying” and otherwise repeatedly spraying broad spectrum insecticides to the whole nursery. These practices harm not only pollinators, but also natural enemies, and are known to cause secondary pest outbreaks.

• Target pesticide applications to the relevant plant part • Adopt laser-guided spray technology to sense the plant’s presence and its characteristics to reduce non-target application and drift, which can reduce the potential for accidental pollinator exposure (Figure 4).

Landscape Contractors: • Communicate with clients and use products and plants that fit their preferences • Offer a pollinator friendly maintenance package that involves scouting and control through mechanical and other pollinator friendly techniques • Offer pollinator friendly design packages that combine attractive flowering species with ornamental ponds or natural streams to provide fresh water, pollen, and nectar • When pest problems occur that must be treated with a pesticide: o Make applications when there is no wind o Cover nearby flowering plants with an opaque tarp to prevent accidental overspray or drift onto sources of pollen • Supplement evergreen-dominant landscapes with flowering plants to increase floral resources

There are resources available to members of the Green Industry who want more information about protecting pollinators.

The USDA Natural Resource Conservation Service (NRCS, https://www.nrcs.usda.gov/) offers publications on how farmers can provide pollinator habitat, and some plantings to conserve pollinators qualify for funding from the NRCS’s Environmental Quality Incentives Program, known as EQIP. The University of Tennessee Extension Publication “Initiating Pollinator Stewardship in the Nursery, Landscape, and Garden Center (W 855)” and “Best Management Practices for Bee Health in the Horticultural Industry” published by the Horticulture Research Institute focus on bee safety and management https://www.hriresearch.org/ pollinator-research-resources. Both publications are reliable resources that can be utilized by landscapers, nursery owners, and retail employees to ensure that safe and sustainable bee management practices are followed.

These tips act as a great starting point for Green Industry businesses becoming more pollinator friendly. Understanding the importance of pollinators, making pesticide applications in a way that minimizes risk to bees and other pollinators, and by fostering pollinator friendly habitats, the Green Industry can help maintain healthy pollinator populations in their communities.

For more information, contact your county UT/TSU Extension Office. To find your county office click here: https://utextension.tennessee.edu.

Acknowledgements The authors would like to acknowledge USDA NIFA SCRI Project 2015-51181-24253.

These tips are partially adapted from the Horticulture Research Institute’s “Grow Wise Bee Smart: Best Management Practices for Bee Health in the Horticulture Industry” pamphlet. tennessee greentimes SUMMER 2020

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Feature Story

Consider How

TESTING BASICS

Can Provide Improved Quality, Better Player Experiences and Safer Athletic Fields

By Dr. Kyley Dickson, Associate Director of the Center for Athletic Field Safety and Dr. John Sorochan, Distinguished Professor, Plant Sciences Department The University of Tennessee This article appeared previously in the February 2020 issue of Sports Field Management online. It is reprinted here with permission of STMA and the authors.

A

thletic fields require regular maintenance whether the surfaces are natural or synthetic. One under-appreciated and challenging aspect for managing athletic fields is that systems change as a season progresses. One of the best ways to reduce player injuries and increase player performance is to have a consistent playing surface that is kept within acceptable ranges for athlete safety. Without regularly testing fields, it is hard to determine variances in playing surface consistency as use and wear increases. Knowing how a field is changing throughout the year can help field managers make data-driven decisions to optimize the performance of the playing surface and help to keep athletes safe. Keeping records of different field conditions across years and within season can help a field manager to visualize what is going on below the field surface. Although testing takes time and can be expensive, the knowledge gained by field managers can help extend the quality and longevity of a field, can improve player performance while protecting player health, and can mitigate risk.

One of the main benefits of testing a field is that testing results reveal consistency and characteristics of a field that have direct impacts on athletes. Tests that are conducted give clues to the health of a field and help identify maintenance actions that are needed. While there are different testing criteria for natural and synthetic surfaces, some shared tests are beneficial for both systems.

In determining what tests are needed for a given surface, a few questions need to be answered. First, is the field natural or synthetic? Second, what sport or sports are played on the field?

Lastly, what is the budget and time available for testing? Answers to these questions will help determine what tests will provide the most beneficial information for each surface. To start, some basic tests need to be established for field managers as a baseline.

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Fig. 1. A side-soil profiler crosssection of turfgrass field reveals roots and layering structure of the sod/soil profile.

Some of the biggest challenges facing turfgrass managers about testing fields come with decisions about which tests to perform, and then budgeting time, interrupted field scheduling, and dollars to complete the tests. The University of Tennessee Center for Athletic Field Safety (UTCAFS) has outlined its suggestions for a basic kit for natural and synthetic fields. For natural fields, the basic test kit should include a soil moisture probe, a side soil profiler, and a rotational traction, testing device. If buying these test components new, estimated costs will range between $2,500 and $5,000 depending on which products are selected. There are a variety of suitable products available. On a synthetic surface, the recommended basic kit includes an infill depth gauge, a measuring device for surface temperatures, and some type of rotational traction device. Estimated costs for synthetic turf kit components range from $850 to $1,000. There are also companies that will perform these tests on both natural and synthetic athletic fields.

Companies can provide a wide range of tests and provide a summary of their findings and recommendations for any actions needed.

Remember that testing results provide a snapshot of the condition of that field at that particular time. Depending upon weather, level of play, and other factors, the same test conducted the following week can yield very different results. For this reason, taking multiple readings across a year will give a more detailed picture of what is happening. The other key requirement for getting a good snapshot is testing for the variables that have the greatest impact. A few variables have an influence on many parts of the field. In natural grass fields, for example, the soil moisture content of the field effects surface hardness, traffic tolerance of grass, rotational traction/resistance, increase in soil bulk density when trafficked, head injury criterion, and translational traction. There are several different kinds of devices

Fig. 3. A rotational traction sampler comes with cleat attachments to assess break force on natural and synthetic turfgrass surfaces.

Fig. 2. This side-soil cross-section shows a clay inclusion within the cut turf profile.

that measure soil moisture, and most provide relatively rapid test results. Soil type in the field is also important and interacts with soil moisture content. In other words, soil moisture content will have a greater negative influence on the playability of a soil that is higher in silt plus clay than a sand-based field. While there are a multitude of tests for additional field performance parameters, irrigating (or withholding irrigation) to achieve appropriate soil moisture content will improve safety, longevity, and performance of a field, in addition to improving the overall quality of the grass.

Another tool for natural grass is a side soil profiler. This device lets you remove a side-cut slice of turfgrass and sand or soil from your field to see what is really going on below the surface (Figure 1). From the slice, a turfgrass manager can quickly determine depth of roots, visualize layering issues, and identify buried objects. For example, a sample from a thinning turfgrass stand in a sand-based root zone may reveal a pocket of clay that is preventing consistent grass growth (Figure 2). In this case, the grass above the clay appeared more stressed than the surrounding areas, and a soil profiler revealed the problem. After a soil profile is taken, it can be reinserted back into the area tested with minimal surface disruption.

Rotational traction is an additional tool that is very useful for both natural and synthetic surfaces and provides more of a performance and safety standpoint for the athletes on the field.

Rotational devices normally have a cleat form on the bottom that is inserted into the surface and turned with a torque wrench around a rotational axis seeing the amount of force is required to break traction (Figure 3). The turfgrass manager’s goal is to keep a field consistent for rotational traction, which provides better footing for players and a potentially safer playing surface.

Failure to maintain uniform rotational traction conditions have

Fig. 4. An infill depth gauge uses metal rods that easily insert into infill materials.

been associated not only with both lower extremity injuries to players, but also to reduced grass health. The smaller, portable devices for measuring rotational traction (Figure 3) are relatively easy and quick to use. There are several kinds available. The one shown in figure 3 is one of several that can be purchased.

Use of these devices will cause a slight disruption to the playing surface where tested, but this minimal surface disruption can be tamped down and will recover.

For synthetic turf, infill depth can be just as important as soil moisture is to a natural grass system. The infill depth is often taken for granted on many synthetic fields. As seasons progress across the lifespan of a synthetic turf, infill will be moved around and spots will form on the field, which are lower or higher than adjacent areas. Research at the Center for Athletic Field Safety has demonstrated that variances in infill depth, surface temperature, and rotational traction each can impact surface hardness.

Measuring infill depth uses a metal rods (or rod) that are inserted until the backing is contacted by the rods, the top of the infill is determined and the distance the rods that are inserted into the surface is the infill depth (Figure 4). Results will let the field tennessee greentimes SUMMER 2020

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Feature Story Continued

Fig. 5. Sampling locations to test across season for surface hardness and overall condition on an American football field or soccer pitch.

manager know if additional infill is needed, or if the infill simply needs to be redistributed from areas that are too high to areas that are too low. The goal is keeping the infill depth as close to manufacturers recommendation.

Surface temperature is another important variable to turf health and field and player performance. Synthetic turfs have temperatures that can be much higher than natural grass fields during full sun when air temperatures are hot. Heat increases to temperatures as high as 175ºF (as was recorded in Knoxville, TN at 3 pm on 13 August 2019) on synthetic turf. This has a detrimental impact on athletes, decreasing performance and increasing the need for breaks and rehydration. Surface temperatures can be taken with a variety of tools, but a hand-held temperature gun (available at most automotive and do-it-yourself supply stores) is an inexpensive, fast and easy device for gauging the surface temperatures of a field. While little can be done to reduce synthetic turf temperature after a system is installed, educating field stakeholders of potential heat concerns is one potential plan of action. The tests described above are just the basics. There are many more tests available if budget and time permits.

Another consideration is what sport/sports are played on the field. In football, knowing surface hardness and rotational traction are of greater importance than ball to surface interaction questions.

In soccer, FIFA has requirements about ball roll and ball rebound that take place on a field. Key sections of a field are also important for choosing where to test (Figure 5). Recommendations are to test the same 8–12 spots on a football field or soccer pitch each time while testing additional areas that may also be of concern.

The more locations that can be tested on a field the better. Testing the same spot across time, and recording the results in a spreadsheet or other mapping platform, will help the manager interpret the findings in a meaningful way. These records will tell you how it is changing each time testing is completed. Comparing multiple fields in a sports complex can show how different fields may vary from each other (and where) due to soil type, construction, grass, infill, and other factors.

Recommendations from professional sports governing bodies (i.e., FIFA Handbook) can also help direct what types of tests are important for a given sport. Currently, most field-testing is only required at the professional level and some sports do not have sports-specific tests. However, there are universal tests such as surface hardness and rotational traction on most surfaces that can be completed to increase the performance of an athletic field.

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Tests for Playing Field Standards (FIFA) Tests for both natural and synthetic turf

Additional tests for synthetic turf

• Ball roll • Ball rebound (“bounce”) • Shock absorption • Vertical deformation • Energy restitution •S urface planarity (“levelness”) • Skin/surface friction

• Infill depth • Free pile height • Surface temperature

References and Additional Resources Baker, S.W. 1991. Temporal variation of selected mechanical properties of natural turf football pitches. Journal of the Sports Turf Research Institute 67: 83–92.

Baker, S.W., and R.J. Gibbs. 1989. Making the most of natural turf pitches. Case studies: II. Playing quality. Natural Turf Pitches Prototypes Advisory Panel Report 4. Sports Council, London.

Charalambous, L., H.C.V.L. Wilkau, W. Potthast, and G. Irwin. 2016. The effects of artificial surface temperature on mechanical properties and player kinematics during landing and acceleration. Journal of Sport and Health Science, 5: 355-360.

Dickson, K.H., J.C. Sorochan, J.T. Brosnan, J.C. Stier, J. Lee, and W.D. Strunk. 2018a. Impact of soil water content on hybrid bermudagrass athletic fields. Crop Sci. 58:1416-1425.

Dickson, K.H., W. Strunk, and J. Sorochan. 2018b. Head impact criteria of natural grass athletic fields is affected by soil type and volumetric water content. Proceedings 2: 270. doi:10.3390/proceedings2060270 Lim, L., and R. Walker. 2009. An assessment of chemical leaching, released to the air and temperature at crumb-rubber infilled synthetic turf fields. New York State Dept. of Health. pp. 1–140 Orchard, J., H. Seward, J. McGivern, and S. Hood. 1999. Rainfall evaporation and the risk of non-contact anterior cruciate ligament injury in the Australian Football League. Medical Journal of Australia 170: 304–306.

Stier, J. C., J. N. Rogers, J. R. Crum, and P. E. Rieke. 1999. Flurprimidol effects on Kentucky bluegrass under reduced irradiance. Crop Sci. 39:1423-1430. homs, A.W.; Brosnan, J.T.; Zidek, J.M.; Sorochan, J.C. 2014. Models T for predicting surface temperatures on synthetic turf playing surfaces.

Procedia Eng. 72: 895–900, doi:10.1016/j.proeng.2014.06.153.

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Feature Story

OVERHEAD AND (Sometimes) OVERLOOKED: Knoxville’s Urban Forester Explores and Explains 10 Years of Change to the City’s Tree Canopy

By Kasey Krouse, City of Knoxville Urban Forester, with Bill Klingeman, UT Plant Sciences Department

In

Fig. 1. Insect-vectored bacterial leaf scorch caused extensive decline in tree crowns, requiring removal of sycamore trees (Platanus occidentalis) that had been planted along the 3rd Creek Greenway Trail (Top). (Inset) Leaf scorch symptoms caused by Xylella fastidiosa are apparent as necrosis on leaf margins (Photos by Kasey Krouse).

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2011, trees surveyed for an Urban Forest Management Plan documented that the Top 4 genera of trees within the City of Knoxville’s managed landscape consisted of maples (21%, Acer spp.), oaks (14%, Quercus spp.), dogwood (11%, Cornus spp.), and sycamore (6%, Platanus spp.), with the remaining 47% of trees spread among other genera. Yet the most abundant tree species within our landscapes are not always the most successful, either with establishment or maintaining tree health across time. Flash forward to 2019 and these genera still comprise the Top 4, yet their prominence as Knoxville tree canopy components has shifted: now to maples (19%), oaks (13%), dogwood (8%), and sycamore (4%). The story of these trees, and of the other 55% of Knoxville’s increasingly diverse tree canopy, is the focus of this article.

At about the same time that the 2011 Urban Forest Inventory was concluded, Knoxville and East Tennessee faced threats from Emerald ash borer (Agrilus planipennis) to ash trees, bacterial leaf scorch (Xylella fastidiosa) to sycamore trees and pin oak (Fig. 1),

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OFFICE PHONE: 606-346-0863 • FAX: 606-346-2139 • MIKE’S CELL: 606-706-1620 EMAIL: brownsnursery@yahoo.com

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Feature Story Continued and thousand cankers disease (TCD) of walnut (Juglans spp.) caused by Pityophthorus juglandis bark beetles that spread Geosmithia morbida fungus. Although walnut trees that survived the initial stress of TCD have demonstrated recovery across the city, ash trees (Fraxinus spp.) have not fared as well. Knoxville has lost more than 90% of its ash tree population within the last 8 years.

In addition to new pests, 2018 was the 4th warmest year on record. Sustained shifts in regional climate conditions might extend the growth season for plants, but may also challenge health and survival of cool-weather tolerant plants and trees, like Spruce (Picea spp.) and fir (Abies spp.) trees. Of course, people also interact with trees in their urban forest environment in ways that aren’t always optimal to tree health and survival (Fig. 2). Given these pressures, change is inevitable. With knowledge and prior planning, adapting to that change can be strategic. And with slowgrowing trees, it pays to be proactive. Having the objectives of long-term canopy health and resilience of the trees in his team’s care, Kasey Krouse has enacted a roadmap for diversifying Knoxville’s urban forest. Six actions help Kasey navigate this roadmap: Assess, Prioritize, Organize, Plan, Build, and Sustain.

Despite ongoing change to the exciting urban forest and health and persistence of individual trees within the Knoxville Tree Inventory, Knoxville’s urban forester and the horticultural team has documented species and assessed condition of about 90% of the trees that the city manages within its parks, roadways, and right-of-way areas. Every one of these trees are managed within a database that helps the team to track and schedule maintenance and manage tree health and evaluate tree populations (Fig. 3, 4). If we project the value of Annual Tree Benefits to the city using iTree, the economic inputs are staggering: these trees provide more than $1.28 million in benefits per year, including improvements to air quality, reduced energy inputs for heating and cooling, improved quality of life, and other ecosystem services.

As a general guideline, the 10:15:20 Rule has persisted as a broadly applied principle used in decision-making for diversifying the urban forest. Briefly explained, the prevalence of a tree species within a “balanced” regional composition should not be relied on to contribute more than 10% to the total community of tree species present; that trees within a given genus contribute not more than 15% of tree composition; and that no one plant family make up more than 20% of all tree diversity. Because so many tree diseases and pest arthropods affect trees across one genus, it is the city’s goal to increase the diversity as much as possible at the genus level.

Categorizing urban tree canopy coverage and species composition is an ongoing effort. The progress that is made on keeping accurate records is challenged by storm events, improper tree maintenance, threats from invasive insect pests and plant

Fig. 4. Within neighborhoods, street-level evaluations can help identify locations where opportunities exist to plant new trees.

The Knoxville Tree Inventory is 90% complete. Information on every tree is cataloged within a database that enables tracking and scheduling of maintenance (Photos courtesy of Kasey Krouse).

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Fig. 2. Humans can be credited with many (and diverse) mechanical injuries and cultural practices that threaten tree health and survival in the landscape (Photos by Kasey Krouse).

Fig. 3. Tree plantings in and around Knoxville’s Krutch Park.

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Feature Story Continued pathogens, and urban development. Given the importance of valid information for making decisions about tree choices, a big goal during 2020 will be to update the city-wide tree canopy assessment. This project, which was last undertaken in 2010, has provided a baseline resource for prioritizing where management activity may be most needed, and directing where future tree plantings can have the greatest impact (Fig. 5, 6).

A Proactive and Hands-On Approach to Prioritizing Knoxville’s Urban Forest In 2012, a straightforward organizational change to the way that the city contracted planting and capital projects has had a tremendous impact on the benefits that Knoxville residents appreciate for trees that are purchased by the city. Among other key factors, city planners and the urban forester developed a relationship with suppliers in Tennessee and across the region.

Together they could discuss needs for select plant species and cultivars, and plan ahead to ensure that the trees which would be most in need would be available three to five years ahead of planned transplanting. These relationships were critical in ensuring that commercial tree producers would have the available nursery stock ready in time to submit contract bids for the size and quality of trees that were needed by the city.

Once a well-grounded understanding of the baseline condition and status of Knoxville’s urban tree canopy was forged, it was time to build upon this information. Productive partnerships have been a key component to the success of these efforts. Kasey worked with the Director and staff at the Knoxville Botanic Garden and Arboretum to establish a Missouri Gravel Bed system, where hard-to-find trees can be maintained with limited resource inputs while trees continue to develop fine feeder roots for easier-toestablish root systems. Once the trees go dormant in late fall and early winter, they can be easily lifted and bare-root transplanted

Fig. 5. The 2010 Tree Canopy Assessment is planned for a major update in 2020. This resource helps to strategize about which districts can most benefit from new tree plantings and tree diversification to enhance Knoxville’s tree canopy coverage profile (Data courtesy of Kasey Krouse).

1997 Est. Devel.

Acreage (Sq. Mi.)

2010 Est. Devel.

Acreage (Sq. Mi.)

6%

15

17

2

(-8%)

14%

22

24

3

27%

–

0%

15

16

<1

33%

28%

(-5%)

2%

18

19

2

–

25%

30%

5%

0%

12

13

1

38%

3%

30%

24%

(-6%)

4%

14

14

<1

33%

6%

28%

23%

-5%

5%

96

103

7

1997 2010 Impervious Impervious Surface Surface

1997 Other Pervious

2010 Other Pervious

Change

7%

29%

15%

(-13%)

34%

8%

25%

17%

29%

34%

5%

27%

(-2%)

21%

28%

7%

35%

(-4%)

36%

35%

31%

34%

3%

35%

40%

40%

–

27%

1997 Canopy

2010 Canopy

Change

District 1 South

46%

51%

6%

21%

28%

District 2 West

35%

35%

–

25%

District 3 Northwest

45%

39%

(-5%)

District 4 Northeast

44%

42%

District 5 North

39%

District 6 East/Central Citywide

Area

Change

Fig. 6. Tree canopy coverage in Knoxville can be rapidly visualized across the city.

18

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Feature Story Continued into prepared locations around the city (Fig. 7). Kasey also sought out and built relationships with several suppliers with whom he could ensure availability of diverse, high quality tree species for the city (Fig. 8). Between 2011 and 2019, Kasey and his team have planted more than 4,990 trees across Knoxville, adding to the more than 22,000 trees in the managed urban forest, and resulting in a 23% increase in the cityâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s tree canopy.

Another milestone for the city was achieved in 2015, when Kasey Krouse and a group of local tree enthusiasts kick-started a local non-profit organization. Trees Knoxville is dedicated to increasing the urban tree canopy across Knoxville. The partnership has been important in assisting the city with additional resources, leveraging projects on private property, and engaging and educating the public on the importance of trees and species diversity. Trees Knoxville has helped to coordinate tree plantings and give away thousands of trees since 2015.

Once trees are planted, the work continues. Inventories are continually updated, failing and hazard trees are removed, and future problems are mitigated with careful pruning and training of central leaders that promote a healthy tree crown. All of these actions are scheduled or undertaken in response to storms (Fig. 9) with the long-term goal of sustaining the health and resilience of Knoxvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s urban forest. The dedicated work of urban foresters, like Kasey Krouse, ensures that generations to come will appreciate and value the benefits from the diverse community of trees that surrounds us.

Fig. 7. The Missouri Gravel Bed system has been used to enable long-season holding, maintenance, and root generation on tree species that can be lifted in fall, when dormant, and bare-root transplanted into landscape locations around Knoxville (Photo courtesy of Kasey Krouse).

Fig. 8. As a Tree City USA member, the diverse and resilient urban tree community in Knoxville has been planned to provide benefits and enjoyment to future generations (Graph courtesy of Kasey Krouse).

Fig. 9. A growing record of purposeful management to Knoxvilleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s urban trees. Planned pruning is critical for limiting catastrophic loss of trees due to more and stronger storms across our region (Graph courtesy of Kasey Krouse).

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