Build a Community Tree Care Team!

Hi Treeps,

It’s official: summer has arrived in Los Angeles! The days are getting hotter and a lot of us are drinking more water and looking for shade.

You may have noticed some new leafy neighbors on your block or nearby park. These shade trees are settling into their new homes on the parkways, taking root and slowly sprouting new leaves and even flowers!

These young trees are still adjusting to growing in your neighborhood and the hot summer heat puts a lot of stress on them. As TreePeople, we want to make sure that our neighbors are given plenty of love and care to grow healthy and strong canopies to give our community shade and so much more.

Recently, we hosted a webinar inviting new tree parents to work with their neighbors and build a Community Tree Care Team!

Here’s some key takeaways from our interactive discussion:

1. Did you know that trees cool cities by 10 degrees Fahrenheit? Other benefits include improving air quality, reducing water pollution, providing habitat for wildlife and so much more.
2. New shade trees need 15 gallons of water a week. You can do this by filling a five-gallon bucket with water three times and making sure to directly water the tree at its roots within the berm. The cost of watering a tree for a year is just about $5!
3. Weeds and grass are a young tree’s main competition for essential nutrients and water. Make sure to remove any weeds and grass within four feet of the tree.
4. Creating a Community Tree Care Team is a fun way to connect with your neighbors and unite your neighborhood around caring for new trees. We have plenty of online materials and resources available along with guidance from TreePeople staff on how to get started!

Caring for trees in your neighborhood is a big job but certainly has its rewards, especially when you do it with friends and neighbors!

Los Angeles-based TreePeople is the region’s largest environmental movement, whose mission is to inspire, engage and support people to take personal responsibility for the urban environment. Visit us at treepeople.org and learn how you can join our cause.