Arbor Day Newsletter July/August 2024

ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION

CHIEF EXECUTIVE, Dan Lambe

ARBOR

DAY JOURNAL

WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT JULY, I’m guessing you imagine swimming pools, shorts and flip flops, popsicles, and even trips to the beach. Because July is hot.

Unfortunately, July just keeps getting hotter. Just last year, the temps were reaching highs not seen on Earth since before the last ice age. (Yes, you read that right.) And we’re on track for another record-breaking year in 2024.

As I adjust the air conditioner and look for other ways to keep cool in the peak heat of the summer months, I can’t help but face the fact that climate change feels closer than ever to my front door. We need a reprieve, and we need it now.

While trees aren’t the only solution to this problem, you know as well as I do that they must be part of the solution. We need to plant trees in the most vulnerable areas of our cities, where people face the greatest danger from rising temperatures — trees that can provide a bit of relief from the relentless heat. We also need to plant trees in forests to pull carbon from the air.

As you read through this issue, you will see examples of our work helping to provide shade that can oftentimes be lifesaving. Afterall, extreme heat kills more Americans each year than tornadoes, hurricanes, and floods combined. Tree planting is happening in marginalized communities like Bridgeport, Connecticut, where residents are turning vast stretches of concrete into fresh green spaces. Tree distributions in Houston are focused on lowering energy costs for homeowners and increasing tree canopy in people’s yards.

None of this work gets done without partnerships — the local planting organizations, corporate supporters, environmental organizations, and our vast network of Arbor Day Foundation members. We are joining together to plant trees, to cool our communities, and to do our part to improve the planet.

Wait, Orcas Need Trees?

The connection between southern resident orcas and forests is closer than you might think

THE ENDANGERED SOUTHERN RESIDENT ORCAS are in trouble. Their population has dwindled to 73. Their food source is scarce. They need help. That’s why efforts are underway to support this mammal, and one important part of the plan is tree planting.

How is it that an ocean-dwelling animal relies on trees for survival? Well, trees shade the rivers and streams of the Pacific Northwest. Chinook salmon rely on those cool and clean waterways for spawning. The young salmon then make their way back to the ocean, where they become lunch for the orcas. Essentially, trees ensure these whales get a regular meal.

“A big part of their diet is Chinook salmon,” says Mike Ford, senior scientist at NOAA’s Northwest Fishery Science Center. “The whole population will eat 200,000 to 300,000 Chinook salmon per year.”

That’s a lot of fish. But unfortunately, many populations of these salmon are federally threatened or endangered.

The Arbor Day Foundation works with local partners in the Pacific Northwest to restore the riparian forests that cool waterways and keep them clean — an important effort to support Chinook salmon populations in the area. And helping these salmon is part of a larger effort to support the orcas.

To read the full story, complete with more information about southern resident orcas and their connection to trees, visit arborday.org/whales.

Helping Your Trees Beat the Heat

HOTTER SUMMER TEMPS ARE HERE. Unlike many people, however, trees can’t head into the air conditioning or float in the pool when the midday heat arrives. So how do trees manage that heat, and how can homeowners help their trees continue to thrive? Ben Heusinkvelt, grounds and orchard manager for Arbor Day Farm and certified arborist, answers these burning questions.

How does heat affect trees?

Just like humans, trees operate most efficiently at certain temperatures. Too cold or too hot, no matter what climate or growing zone they are in, there are always thresholds where trees begin to decrease functionality. With the heat extremes we’re seeing now — and duration of these extremes — it’s important to look at the effects in the tree canopy.

Too much heat for extended periods can cause excessive transpiration, leading to a loss in water within the plant. Ultimately, that can lead to death of the tree.

How do you know a tree is experiencing stress from heat?

Heat stress in trees can look like a lot of things: drooping branches, browning leaf tips, small or unusually shaped leaves, or even dieback of branches (particularly high in the center of the tree crown). In heat stress situations, trees are losing water faster than they are absorbing it.

How do trees protect themselves from too much heat?

Trees aren’t complicated things. They handle heat stress in their environment just like humans do. We call it sweating, and trees call it transpiration. The process is almost identical, though. Simply replace skin and pores with leaves and openings called stomata. Trees move water throughout their branches and allow it to escape onto the outside of their leaves and are cooled by the evaporation process.

Trees in higher-temperature climates have adapted over time by growing smaller leaves with less surface area to transpire from.

What can homeowners do to protect their trees in extreme heat?

Water. Long, irregularly timed waterings around the base and drip line of a tree is regarded as the best method to encourage deep root growth and provide sufficient water to the root zone. Also, apply a 2- to 4-inch thick mulch layer around the drip line of the tree. This helps reduce evaporation from the soil while preventing the soil from absorbing and radiating excess heat. If possible, wind blocks in certain areas can help as well — stopping hot, dry air from sweeping through your trees and drying the leaves.

At right: Ben Heusinkvelt, grounds and orchard manager at Arbor Day Farm

Mulching is an important step homeowners can take to protect their trees during hot summer months.

Turning Grayscapes to Greenscapes in Bridgeport

A community in Connecticut uses its voice and shovels to grow change.

Although it’s known as the “Park City,” a quick scan of the intertwining streets of Bridgeport, Connecticut, tells a different story. It’s one where low-income communities — especially those found on the eastern side of the city — lack tree coverage.

It gets blistering hot in the summer. As in, 100 degrees-plus hot. Some families can’t afford to pay electricity bills, and green space is at a premium.

Relief can feel out of reach for residents.

The city of Bridgeport has the lowest level of tree canopy in the state, and the East Side neighborhood has the lowest tree count in Bridgeport. Tree canopy cover is a scant 5%, with threats of damaging storms and emerald ash borer always looming.

The lack of trees also diminishes air quality, creating the perfect storm for respiratory conditions, like asthma, which is prevalent in this community, particularly in children.

But the story of Bridgeport is not one of disrepair, as residents came together to rebuild the social fabric, health, and vitality of the area with the help of trees.

The city has strong local leaders, like Christina Smith, president & CEO of Groundwork Bridgeport, an Arbor Day Foundation planting partner prioritizing planting trees not just in the community, but with the community.

Engaging the Next Generation of Tree Planters

The Arbor Day Foundation focuses its work through a network of local planting organizations that do more than simply put new trees in the ground. They build capacity, educate, and ensure the communities being supported understand that it takes more than merely tree planting to unlock the power of trees for communities.

Just like in Bridgeport.

Groundwork Bridgeport hired a team of youth and trained them to provide ongoing care for trees in the community. Originally called the Tree Stewards, this group of teens quickly renamed themselves the Tree Patrol and set to work. They serve the neighborhoods where they live, monitoring the trees, providing basic care, and connecting with their neighbors. Their “patrolling” is improving each tree’s

Bridgeport residents are excited to get involved in the tree planting movement taking hold in their community.

Reducing Energy Bills in Houston

A unique partnership helps homeowners plant free trees in their yards.

SURE, TEXAS IS HOT. Isn’t it supposed to be hot? It is, after all, Texas.

This might have been a fair statement a few years ago, but record-setting summer temps in 2022 and 2023 are a sure sign that it’s getting too hot to handle in Houston. That’s why tree planting efforts here are more important than ever before.

To help residents tackle this problem head-on, local energy company CenterPoint Energy has once again partnered with Trees for Houston and the Arbor Day Foundation to distribute 1,000 free trees to residents. This means lower energy use and lower energy bills.

Planting Tip: Enjoy your own energy savings by planting deciduous shade trees where they can shade the south and west sides of your home, leaving plenty of room for them to grow.

Through the Foundation’s tree distribution technology, homeowners went online to sign up and choose which species they wanted. Using i-Tree technology, the website also helped homeowners plot out the best place to plant their new tree, considering benefits like energy savings. Then the trees were distributed at a pick-up event hosted by CenterPoint Energy and Trees for Houston.

This marks the 13th year of the partnership. Throughout the years, nearly 19,000 trees have been planted in yards across the city, specifically placed to optimize energy savings and benefit the entire community.

Leave a Living Legacy with One Simple Step

TIM (not his real name) WAS A MEMBER of the Arbor Day Foundation since 1992 and had a deep appreciation for the work being done on behalf of trees and environmental stewardship. Working with the Foundation’s gift planning manager, Tim was able to easily add the Foundation as the successor beneficiary of two of his IRA accounts. When Tim passed away recently, his gift became a legacy of caring that will help the Arbor Day Foundation continue its important work long into the future.

Naming the Foundation on a retirement, life insurance, or other account is an easy way to ensure your assets will

send

contribute to the kind of work you appreciate and support — and without the expense of rewriting a will or living trust. You will need the following information: The Foundation’s legal name (National Arbor Day Foundation d/b/a Arbor Day Foundation), Tax ID (23-7169265), and mailing address (211 N. 12th St., Lincoln, NE 68508). Here are two easy ways to provide for a future gift:

• Retirement Plans — Most retirement accounts (IRAs, 401(k), 403(b), etc.) allow you to select beneficiaries to receive the plan assets remaining after the owner’s death. To designate the Arbor Day Foundation as a beneficiary, contact the account administrator and request the appropriate form. The designated assets will transfer tax-free to the Foundation, whereas if left to your heirs, they may face both ordinary income tax and estate tax.

• Life Insurance — Contact your policy issuer and ask for the appropriate form to designate the Arbor Day Foundation as a beneficiary of your policy.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Erin Mousel at 888-448-7337, ext. 9614 or development@arborday.org.

longevity while giving the teens valuable experience and a good wage.

“It’s not just about the number of trees planted per day. It really is about survival,” Smith says.

The Right Trees in the Right Places

“We’re layering data and technology to be able to find where trees are needed the most, down to the specific city block,” says Amy Lester, a project coordinator for the Arbor Day Foundation.

Looking at a layering of public data, satellite imagery, socioeconomic data, and image-recognition software, it was easy to see that the east Bridgeport neighborhood desperately needed trees. So, the Arbor Day Foundation stepped up to support critical efforts here.

“Without the support of the Arbor Day Foundation, we wouldn’t be doing what we’re doing to this level. We’re planting trees in strategically more impactful ways. We’re planting them more effectively and with greater care,” says Peter LeDuc, land steward for Groundwork Bridgeport.

The most recent project that happened in partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation was a tree giveaway. Fifty trees were distributed to residents of the neighborhood.

Residents showed their support for the effort by coming out in full force. They know what the trees mean to their community. To their health. To the next generation of those growing up in east Bridgeport.

“This type of giveaway project is the definition of community empowerment. Bringing people out, letting them choose where these trees are going to go in their own properties and in their own neighborhoods, that’s how we reforest Bridgeport,” says Chadwick Schroeder, sustainability manager for the city of Bridgeport.

Community in Action

With the recent support for tree planting, Smith has more plans for the future. Developing pollinator pathways and planting “cool corridors” to reduce urban heat are just a couple of action items on her list. From there, the possibilities grow even more.

Get Involved in Your Community

Does your community need more trees? You can help by taking action. Reach out to your community forester. Find local tree planting organizations where you live. And ask how you can play a role in greening the neighborhoods around you.

“When you show care and people see other people showing care, it becomes contagious,” she says.

Bridgeport is a great example of turning a need for trees into an opportunity for a community to thrive. To see the video of this work in action, visit arborday.org/bridgeport.

More trees mean more green space where it’s needed most in Bridgeport.

A Shield Against the Elements

How trees help communities tackle heat islands

Help keep your community cool.

Talk to your local city forester or city council about adding green space to the urban landscape.

URBAN HEAT ISLANDS seem to make headline news more and more, thanks to a changing climate. But what are heat islands, and how can trees help?

The Environmental Protection Agency defines heat islands as “urbanized areas that experience higher temperatures than outlying areas.” The reason for these higher temps is how cities have been built. Urban cores tend to have large buildings, lots of pavement, and limited green space. Trees can help break up these islands and provide much-needed relief.

WITH TREES WITHOUT TREES

When planted properly to shade buildings, trees reduce energy use by up to 20%.

In the summertime, trees reflect 70–90% of the sun’s energy back into the atmosphere.

Trees can reduce temperatures in our neighborhoods by up to 10 degrees.

Trees shelter people and keep them cooler as they experience the outdoors.

Direct summer sun heats buildings faster, requiring additional air conditioning that releases more heat and pollutants into the air.

Without trees, people have no protection from the sun or heat outdoors.

Trees can reduce parking lot surface temperatures by as much as 36° F on hot days.

Concrete and asphalt absorb the sun’s energy, creating higher surface and air temperatures.

of America’s favorite trees and the state tree of New Jersey. In the forest, it has been called “one of the handsomest, cleanest, and stateliest trees in North America.” In urban areas, it grows amazingly well under a wide variety of conditions and is an icon of year-round beauty, summer shade, and longevity.

The tree’s colorful name comes from its leaves. They are tinged red as they unfurl in the spring and again become a lovely shade of red in autumn.

LEAVES: Alternate on the branch, 4–8 inches long with 7–11 waxy, spine-tipped lobes. Color is a rich green in summer and russet-red to bright red in autumn.

FLOWERS: Pale, yellow-green catkins appear at about the same

typically April to May.

ACORNS: Highly variable but usually about ¾–1 inch long with a flat, saucer-like cap of tight, smooth scales.

BARK: Dark brown and scaly or smooth when young, becoming deeply furrowed as it matures.

FORM: Medium-sized at maturity, reaching 60–75 feet in height with a single trunk. The crown is symmetrical, rounded, and dense — reaching a spread of up to 45 feet and offering great shade.

WILDLIFE VALUE: Acorns from this tree are at the top of the food preference list for blue jays, wild turkeys, squirrels, whitetail deer, raccoons, and black bears. Deer

We guarantee delivery of healthy trees to our members. Please check ordering deadlines and shipping dates at arborday.org/shipping. If you need to contact us about your trees, call 888-448-7337, email us at info@arborday.org, or drop us a note at Member Services, Arbor Day Foundation, 211 N. 12th St., Lincoln, NE 68508. We want your tree planting efforts to be successful! © 2024 Arbor Day Foundation. The Foundation sometimes exchanges mailing lists with selected

If you do not want your name included, just write, email us at privacy@arborday.org, or call

also browse the buds and twigs in wintertime.

PLANTING: Best growth is in deep, rich loam soils or sandy loam. Slower growth in heavier soils. The ideal pH is acidic, between 4 and 7. Full sun is preferred, although partial shade will be tolerated. Suitable for hardiness zones 4–8.

To purchase or learn more about this tree and others, visit arborday.org/red-oak or scan this QR code.