Tree City USA

Last fall, the City of San Clemente applied to the National Arbor Day Foundation to become a Tree City USA. Communities seek this special designation for guidance in expanding their urban forest.

To qualify, a city complies with four standards:

1. Establish a Tree Board

2. Enact a Tree Ordinance the tree 2-4 feet away from the trunk. Turn the hose on low and measure how many minutes it takes to fill a five-gallon bucket. Multiply that by three or four and leave the hose trickling in the moat for that length of time.

Club, Citizens’ Climate Education, and both Rotary Clubs are donating time and treasure toward helping San Clemente plant large trees at Forster Ranch Community Park.

Come by at 9 a.m. on April 28 to join the action.

• Water mature trees monthly

Place the hose by the drip line (where the tree’s canopy ends). Water slowly to a depth of 18 inches.

EDUCATION

Advertising Sales Debra Wells (CD)

ART + DESIGN Special Projects Art Director

Jasmine Smith

Graphic Designer Chelsie Rex

Advertising Design

Marc Hostetter

OPERATIONS

General Manager

Alyssa Garrett

Group Operations & Production Coordinator

Inna Cazares

Local Distribution

Tim Trent

FINANCE

Accounting & Finance Manager

Tricia Zines

CONTRIBUTORS

Megan Bianco, Jake Howard

San Clemente Times, Vol. 18, Issue 16. The SC Times (sanclementetimes.com ) is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, publishers of the Dana Point Times (danapointtimes.com) and The Capistrano Dispatch (thecapistranodispatch.com). Copyright: No articles, illustrations, photographs or other editorial matter or advertisements herein may be reproduced without written permission of the publisher. The publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, art, photos or negatives. Copyright 2023. All rights reserved. Printed in the USA. San Clemente Times is published weekly by Picket Fence Media, 34932 Calle Del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624. Application to Mail at Periodicals Postage Prices is Pending at San Clemente, CA. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: San Clemente Times, 34932 Calle Del Sol, Suite B, Capistrano Beach, CA 92624.

3. Budget for Tree Care

4. Celebrate Arbor Day

Based on a recent inventory, San Clemente maintains 15,000 public trees. Currently, the city removes more trees than it plants. We must help reverse this trend.

Trees have it rough. Between prolonged periods of drought, disease, vandalism, storm damage and old age, it’s not easy being green! Together with trees on private land, the city’s canopy coverage is 21%. This is less than the national average of 27% and that of neighboring cities.

This Arbor Day gives us an opportunity to turn things around by fostering a culture of care for trees. The Garden