THE ARBOR DOCTOR

A storm system will move well to our southeast Saturday night while another wave of energy dives in from the northwest.  While it appears most of the precipitation will stay to Cincinnati’s southeast, there is just enough uncertainty to merit a mention.  Snow is possible Saturday night, but currently there is only a slight chance.

       Cincinnati Park Board

MEDIA RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                               

Contact: Julie Horne

February 24, 2009                                                                 

Cincinnati Parks             www.cincinnatiparks.com                                                    

(513) 357-2606

TTY: (513) 352-380                                                                                  

julie.horne@cincinnati-oh.gov

 

                                                                                                                                               

WHO:  City of Cincinnati Board of Park Commissioners      WHAT:  Cincinnati Named Tree City USA® and Receives Prestigious Growth Award

 

Cincinnati has been named a Tree City USA community by the Arbor Day Foundation to honor its commitment to community forestry.  Cincinnati was first named a Tree City USA community in 1981, so 2008 is the 28^th consecutive year Cincinnati has received this national recognition!

 

In addition, Cincinnati also received the Tree City USA Growth Award . The prestigious Growth Award recognizes environmental improvement and higher levels of tree care in Tree City USA communities. Cincinnati Parks’ Urban Forestry has demonstrated progress in key growth award areas: community partnerships, green industry partnerships, and planning and management.

 

“A community, its elected officials and its citizens that provide needed care for its trees deserves recognition and thanks,” said John Rosenow, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “They recognize that trees are a vital component of the infrastructure in our cities and towns, providing environmental and economical benefits. Trees moderate climate, conserve water and provide habitat for wildlife. Trees in urban areas reduce the heat island effect caused by pavement and buildings. Properly placed trees can increase property values. Communities that are recognized with a Tree City USA designation and Growth Award go to great lengths to plant and care for the community forest.”

 

Highlights from Cincinnati Parks 2008 Urban Forestry program include:

 

·      Planted 3,083 trees in 2008, far exceeding the goal of 2,000 trees established by Parks in Mayor Mallory’s Green Cincinnati Initiative.

·      Developed a pioneering tree recycling partnership with Cincinnati Public Schools (CPS) and Hamilton County to utilize wood from blighted ash trees to be milled locally.  CPS purchases the lumber at below market cost to make into floors and furniture for new and remodeled school buildings. Proceeds support the local sawmill and supplement tree planting programs.

 

            CONTACT:  Dave Gamstetter, Cincinnati Parks Urban Forestry (513) 861-9070

 

About the Arbor Day Foundation

The Tree City USA program is sponsored by the Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of State Foresters and the USDA Forest Service. The Arbor Day Foundation is a nonprofit, environmental, education organization of nearly one million members, with a mission to inspire people to plant, nurture, and celebrate trees. More information on the Foundation and its programs can be found at www.arborday.org.

 

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Trees are one of the most effective tools in the “Greening” of our Communities.
- They reduce the carbon impact by absorbing carbon dioxide and cleaning our air.
- They reduce energy by cooling buildings and houses in the summer.
- Trees cool our urban areas by helping to reduce the “heat island” effect.
- Trees are one of the most effective tools in storm water remediation.  
- Trees increase property values.
- Trees are beautiful!
 
Join us for an informative evening on why trees matter in our communities. This educational program will feature the following speakers:
 
Jim Chatfield - Jim is one of the leaders of the “Why Trees Matter” program from The Ohio State University. Jim works out of the Northeastern Region in the Ohio Agriculture Research and Development Center OARDC in Wooster Ohio. Jim will lead our talk with the title presentation on “Why Trees Matter” and the program that The Ohio State University has developed.
 
Jennifer Gulick – Jennifer works with the Davey Resource Group. She has 25 years of Urban Forestry experience and is both a Certified Arborist and Certified Forester. Jennifer is one of the leaders in urban tree assessment in the United States. Jennifer is also on the Northern Kentucky Urban and Community Forestry Council as well as the Professional Grounds Management Society. Jennifer will talk on her work with i-tree, a tool for assessing and managing community forests. If you are looking for ways to increase tree planting in your community you don’t want to miss this presentation.  
 
Steve Foltz – Steve is the Director of Horticulture at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden. Steve has been with the Zoo for 20 years working with the plants that thrive and survive in Greater Cincinnati landscapes. Steve is also the co-founder of the new plant website www.plantplaces.com which tracks actual trees growing in our local arboretums and communities. Steve will present Trees that thrive in Cincinnati landscapes.
 
6:00 - 6:30   Registration
6:30 - 7:15 “Why Trees Matter” — Jim Chatfield
7:15 - 8:00 “Assessing Trees in Your Community” — Jennifer Gulick
8:00 - 8:15   Break
8:15 - 9:00 “Trees That Thrive in Cincinnati Landscapes” — Steve Foltz
 
Registration is $10.00
 
TO REGISTER:  call OSU Extension, Hamilton County:  513-946-8989
OR
Call the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden:  559-7767 option 4
OR
Register On-Line:   http://cincinnatizoo.org/discovery/adult/default.html
Click “Register Online” under “Adult Programs” then click “GARDEN PROGRAMS” and scroll down to “Why Trees Matter.”

Snow showers and flurries will continue today, then gradually taper off.  Quick coverings to a half inch are possible.  Temperatures will remain in the 20’s.  The warm ground temperatures will lead to melting and then re-freezing on pavement, so slick spots and ice are likely.

Another system will affect the area Saturday.  The current track would take the low and heaviest snow band north of Cincinnati, possibly as far north as Dayton.  Nonetheless, a period or burst of snow is still expected in Cincinnati, possibly as much as an inch or two.

Due to the northerly track of the low, snow may shut off Saturday and temperatures rise, possibly into the mid or upper 30’s.  Therefore, don’t cancel any plans.  It may not be too bad, especially in the afternoon.

Sunday and Monday appear cold, followed by a warming trend ahead of the next system which will approach by mid-week.  That system appears to be warm enough to produce rain, or a mix changing to rain.

Ron

Tuesday, October 14, 2008 | News Release | Emerald Ash Borer

After a wet Wednesday, Thursday will be much colder.  There is a slight chance of a thunderstorm Wednesday, and a very slight chance of severe weather.  Snow showers Thursday could leave light accumulations with temperatures falling through the twenties.

A clipper system Saturday holds the potential to leave accumulting snow.  A few inches may be possible in some areas.

Important research is revealing new insights about the planting of container grown nursery stock and how to treat roots for the best long term success.   Click here for details.

The Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA) has chosen Chinkapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii) as its 2009 Urban Tree of the Year. The winner must be adaptable to a variety of harsh conditions and have strong ornamental traits. The contest has been running for fourteen years, and past winners include black tupelo (2008), baldcypress (2007), Kentucky coffeetree (2006), ‘Chanticleer’ flowering pear (2005), and ‘Autumn Blaze’ red maple (2004).

 

The SMA has 1300-plus members who practice urban forestry all over North America and beyond. Members submitted nominations for this year’s Urban Tree of the Year, and the majority voted for Chinkapin oak. Director of the Cornell Urban Horticulture Institute Dr. Nina Bassuk says, “Here is an oak that prefers alkaline soil, is drought resistant, and is hardy to zone 5 or below. We have several years of experience with Quercus muehlenbergii in Ithaca and we have been amazed. I estimate that it is in the middle range of oak transplant ease—not as difficult as a white or bur oak, but not as easy as a swamp white oak. After the obligate ‘sleep, creep, leap,’ it truly seems to grow rapidly. With this accolade, I hope that Chinkapin oak will become a fixture in the nursery industry and on our streets.”

 

Chinkapin oak has handsome, shiny, chestnut-like leaves with coarse marginal teeth. The fall foliage can be a showy yellow to orange-brown. 

 

Municipal arborists from Albuquerque, New Mexico to Lansing, Michigan, sing the praises of Chinkapin oak, a tough, adaptable tree for urban use. Of course, there is no one perfect tree for every situation, and Chinkapin oak has its limitations. It doesn’t tolerate wet soils well, and it should be given adequate space to grow: with proper tree care, it can be expected to mature at 40 to 60 feet tall and 50 to 60 feet wide.