HOW TREES ARE POWERING HURRICANE HARVEY RECOVERY FEATURED ARTICLE
LAMBE Chief Executive, Arbor Day Foundation
As the United States continues to move through the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season, it can be difficult to remember the devastation of days past. The urgent pull of present needs tends to redirect attention away from the now-formerly impacted, like those hit by Hurricane Harvey in 2017. But as you’ll read in this issue, the Arbor Day Foundation doesn’t walk away from a disaster-affected community. We’ve continued recovery work in the Gulf Coast of Texas in the many years since Hurricane Harvey, just as we have continued work in New Orleans in the now two decades since Hurricane Katrina.
We’re committed to helping heal the scars, because replanting lost trees can root once-devastated communities in hope and resilience.
We’re already seeing this in Asheville, North Carolina, and the many other communities affected by Hurricanes Helene and Milton last year. Through generous giving, donors and supporters like you have helped accelerate the Foundation’s impact on the ground in communities most in need of tree recovery. Your commitment has served as a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we all stand together.
DAN
PRESCRIBING NATURE: HOW MAYO CLINIC IS REDEFINING HEALING
At the nation’s best-ranked hospital, trees are more than just landscaping — they’re part of the treatment plan.
Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota, is a recognized Tree Campus Healthcare facility by the Arbor Day Foundation, meeting standards for tree care and community engagement at the intersection of trees and public health. Across its expansive campus, trees are being used in innovative, intentional ways to support healing, solve environmental challenges, and enhance patient and staff wellbeing.
Decades of research have shown that exposure to nature can help improve mood, lower blood pressure, boost the immune system, and even reduce recovery times. According to the Arbor Day Foundation’s 2025 Canopy Report, more than half of Americans say trees and green spaces help improve their mood and reduce stress and anxiety.
At Mayo Clinic, this science is guiding real-world solutions.
The newly renovated Saint Francis Peace Garden offers patients and families a serene escape under a lush tree canopy. Designed for full immersion in green space, the garden helps reduce anxiety and offers a quiet moment of comfort in challenging times.
Elsewhere, trees are solving unexpected problems. When heat-reflective panels near a parking garage
began to raise temperatures in the courtyard and dry out nearby plants, trees were planted strategically to provide shade and block reflected sunlight. As temperatures dropped, plant health improved, and more people began using the space.
Trees have also been used to protect patient privacy. In a courtyard used by patients, trees now form a living barrier between the space and a nearby road, offering both seclusion and the calming benefits of nature.
Recognizing that healing extends beyond patients, Mayo Clinic created a dedicated, tree-lined sanctuary for staff to rest and recharge, too. They’ve even woven natural elements into the design of their Children’s Center — bringing the comfort of the outdoors inside.
They not only have thoughtfully incorporated natural elements across the campus but, most inspiring of all, some physicians at Mayo Clinic have begun prescribing nature itself, encouraging patients to engage with green spaces as part of their care.
Mayo Clinic is proving what we’ve long believed: the future of healthcare is rooted in green.
Learn more about the Tree Campus Healthcare recognition program, and how hospitals are using trees as a tool for community wellness at arborday.org/health
REPLANTING THE GULF
How trees are powering Harvey recovery
When Hurricane Harvey battered the Texas Gulf Coast in August 2017, Rockport and Port Aransas took a direct hit. Winds over 130 miles per hour toppled ancient trees, tore off rooftops, and left both towns in shambles.
“The city was devastated. Streets were full of tree debris and cables down everywhere,” says Bill Green, community forester for Texas A&M Forest Service. “Either trees were broken and down or standing with not a single leaf.”
Recovery after natural disasters takes a toll on everything and everyone in the area. While the immediate focus after a disaster like Hurricane Harvey is rightly on first responders and personal safety, restoring lost tree canopy plays a vital role in long-term recovery. When communities are ready to rebuild, replanting trees is a powerful step toward renewal.
That’s when the Arbor Day Foundation stepped in, working along the Texas Gulf Coast to connect support and resources through its planting partner network — including the Texas A&M Forest Service — to help residents begin replanting. “When communities are ready to replant, it’s a step toward normalcy,” says Lachel Bradley-Williams, senior manager of community trees at the Arbor Day Foundation. “They leave with smiles and get to rebuild their future.”
For the Arbor Day Foundation, working with local partners to plant trees is about standing with impacted communities for the long haul — helping them move forward and grow
stronger with each season. Since 2018, the Foundation has supported Gulf Coast communities in recovering from Hurricane Harvey, helping plant more than 7,000 trees in Rockport and Port Aransas alone. This work is made possible by our generous supporters and committed local partners who know their landscapes and communities needs. Through annual tree distributions, trees are placed directly in the hands of residents who lost them in the storm.
Rae Mooney, manager for the Port Aransas Nature Preserve, says the tree loss after Hurricane Harvey impacts so many dimensions of the local ecosystem. Port Aransas, notably, has long been a “rest stop” of sorts for birds migrating towards warmer weather in the winter months.
“We encourage people to plant for wildlife,” Mooney says. “Migrating birds need places to rest and eat, especially after losing so much habitat.”
Seven thousand trees and counting, and the recovery still isn’t complete. Canopy restoration can take decades after a hurricane as devastating as Harvey. Green says it’s important to remember that just because a disaster leaves the news headlines, doesn’t mean the important work — and the need for resources and support — is over.
“It takes years to recover,” Green emphasizes. “Each year, people keep coming back for more (trees) — they’re still trying to replace what they lost.”
See the story of recovery in action — watch how Gulf Coast communities are rebuilding after Hurricane Harvey at arborday.org/gulf-coast
DRIVING CHANGE, ONE TREE AT A TIME
This spring, Subaru and its retailers nationwide partnered with the Arbor Day Foundation to set a new benchmark for corporate environmental action, rolling out the largest corporate community tree distribution in the Foundation’s history. Through this ambitious partnership, 100,000 trees were distributed to communities and forestlands across 49 states.
As part of the Subaru Loves the Earth® initiative, this effort focused on direct and lasting impact. Subaru retailers distributed trees in one-gallon containers to local residents to help filter air, provide shade, and restore local ecosystems. In neighborhoods hit hard by tree loss from storms, disease, or age, these new plantings will bring healing and rejuvenation.
“Subaru’s commitment to environmental stewardship helped us bring trees to communities across the country,” said Dan Lambe, chief executive of the Arbor Day Foundation. “It’s partnerships like this that have allowed us to multiply our impact and address urgent environmental challenges and community well-being.”
More than 600 Subaru retailers participated nationwide, distributing trees to over 22,500 zip codes.
By putting trees directly in the hands of everyday people, Subaru and the Arbor Day Foundation have sown seeds for a greener, healthier future for generations.
To learn more about the program or other Foundation initiatives, visit arborday.org/subaru-partnership
FALL TREE PLANTING: 5 TIPS FOR SUCCESS
Spring gets all the glory when it comes to planting, but fall can also be a great time to plant. Cooler temperatures and seasonal rains help reduce stress, giving young trees a head start on the following spring.
If you’re planting this season, here are five tips to help your tree thrive:
1 Choose the Right Tree. Select a species well suited to your local climate and soil. Plant at least six weeks before the first hard freeze to give young trees time to adapt before winter.
2 Mulch Wisely. Add 2–3 inches of mulch around the base of your tree (but not against the trunk) to insulate roots, retain moisture, and suppress weeds.
3 Prioritize Watering. Even without leaves, roots remain active. Keep the soil consistently moist until the ground freezes.
4 Don’t Plant Too Deep. The root flare – where the trunk meets roots – should sit at or just above ground level. Planting too deep can smother roots and hinder growth.
5 Protect Your Tree from Wildlife. Use fencing or breathable trunk guards to protect young trees from wildlife, like deer and rabbits.
With these simple tips, your tree will be ready to thrive come spring.
Get more tips and resources to plant with confidence at arborday.org/planting-your-tree
THE FUTURE IS COUNTING ON YOU
We all have a role to play in shaping a greener future. One with a thriving neighborhood tree canopy, vibrant forest ecosystems, and a healthier planet for future generations. This is a future that’s going to take all of us doing everything we can.
Here’s your moment to make an impact that will last well beyond your lifetime. With help from the Arbor Day Foundation, you can leave a legacy through trees.
To learn more about gift planning, go to arborday.org/planning or scan the QR code.
We are here to help: Erin Mousel, Gift Planning Officer 888-448-7337, ext. 9614 emousel@arborday.org
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STAYMAN WINESAP APPLE
Malus domestica ‘Stayman Winesap’
Known for its rich, tangy flavor and crisp texture, the Stayman Winesap apple tree is a favorite among home orchardists and apple enthusiasts alike. This heirloom variety produces medium to large, deep red apples that are excellent for fresh eating, baking, and cider-making. The fruit ripens in mid to late fall and stores well for several months.
In the landscape, this tree offers more than just delicious fruit. Its spring blossoms attract pollinators like bees and butterflies, while its dense canopy provides seasonal shade and beauty. For best results, plant in full sun with well-drained soil, and be sure to include a compatible pollinator nearby.
The Stayman Winesap thrives in hardiness zones 5 to 8 and typically grows to a height of 12 to 20 feet, depending on rootstock and pruning.
To purchase or learn more about this tree and others, visit arborday.org/stayman-winesap or scan this QR code.
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
We want your tree planting efforts to be successful!
