California Center for Sustainable Energy

San Diego County Urban Tree Map - How to Calculate a Tree's Value

Public workshop -  March 1, 2012
5:30pm-7:30pm

This workshop introduces the public launch and is the primary public workshop offered to learn about the San Diego County Trees Urban Mapping project. This program collected street tree data from thirteen San Diego regional cities and two college campuses to calculate their climate and environmental benefits. Aspects of the various menus, fields and tree benefits will be explained, and some background about the development of this project will be shared. Participants in this class will learn how to locate various tree species, update the data for existing county trees, as well as learn how and why to enter new trees into the existing county wide database.

Save the Date: January 14, 2012

reserve your FREE ticket now; seating is limited to first come - first seated
Balboa Park - Recital Hall
5:30pm - 8:30pm

Celebrate Trees

"An evening with John Muir"

a performance by Doug Hulmes

reception from 5:30pm - 6:30pm
(educational tables, refreshments, slide-show, music and introductions)

Doors close: Performance begins 6:30pm
audience question and answer period to follow

(location is across from SD Hall of Champions sports museum off Park Blvd./Presidents Way) - ample free parking

Trees of Ill Repute - from maligned to benign

Robin Rivet: ISA Certified Arborist -
Advice and Technical Assistance Center for Urban Forestry
February 13, 2012: 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Location:
San Diego Horticultural Society - regular monthly meeting
San Diego County Fairgrounds - Del Mar

FREE to members: $10.00 to non-members

This presentation will discuss the myths, truths and fictions that are pervasive regarding trees in the urban forest.

There will be a discussion about some local trees which could benefit from more or less common planting, as well as the reasons for some advised  changes. Common tree care and planting mistakes will be also covered.

Finally, we will present a broad overview of the new San Diego County urban tree mapping project. Attendees will learn about what the map expects to accomplish, and why it is vital for sustainable landscape planning for our futures.

This event is completed

Saranac/Mohawk Neighborhood Beautification Day

December 10, 2011 10:00-2:00pm

Location: Harriet Tubman Charter School
6880 Mohawk St. San Diego, CA 92115

The Fruit Tree Foundation donated over 35 fruit trees to this public charter school.  They are eventually hoping to launch a joint use school/community garden at this site.  In the meantime, this public workshop will provide the neighborhood information about choosing home orchard fruit tree species and how to plant and care for them.

There will be a hands-on pruning demonstration of dormant and winter fruit trees in the garden following school events.

Speakers for the day:
Robin Rivet ISA Certified Arborist from CCSE's Advice and Technical Assistance Center for urban forestry
Dave Yetz: Professional Horticulturist and past-president California Rare Fruit Growers organization

This community event has been completed

Thursday, November 3, 2011: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
California Center for Sustainable Energy
8690 Balboa Ave., Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92123

Mike Evans, owner of the famous Tree of Life Native Nursery in San Juan Capistrano presents a workshop on the best native plants for use in sustainable urban gardens. This class will discuss the best cultivars of native trees, shrubs, perennials and groundcovers, especially targeting ones that tolerate integration with non-native, but low water use garden plans. He will also share types of natives that thrive best in totally native plant restoration projects, as well as offer advice about the best natives to select for creating educational bird and butterfly habitats, and which native plants may have higher shade or water requirements, and why.

This class is now completed

Thursday, October 13, 2011: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
California Center for Sustainable Energy
8690 Balboa Ave., Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92123

October is the best time to plant trees in San Diego. Join local ISA Certified Arborist, Leah Rottke for an in-depth presentation about how to grow healthy trees. Detailed information about locating the right tree in the right place, choosing the best tree species for the site, best practices for selecting quality nursery stock, and how to properly plant a new tree will be presented. Proper maintenance of newly planted trees - to include watering, pruning, staking and fertilization will  also be covered.

» This class is completed

“SUSTAIN LA MESA”
ENVIRONMENTAL FESTIVAL 2011 and “OUR PLANET, OUR HOME”
K-12 ENVIRONMENTAL LITERACY & ART CONTEST

October 8, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Harry Griffen Park, 9550 Milden Street, La Mesa CA 91942

Thursday, September 22, 2011: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
California Center for Sustainable Energy
8690 Balboa Ave., Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92123

Candace Vanderhoff LEED AP presents capturing rain water and greywater: innovative landscape techniques. Learn how to transform a small urban landscape into a regenerative, water culture by using greywater, rainwater, compost and earthworks. Her vibrant and beautiful site uses salvaged bamboo, wood, concrete and mud to create a model for up-cycling, reusing and showcasing our two most valuable unappreciated resources - water and discarded construction materials.

San Diego Urban Tree Club - Mission Hills Tree Planting
Saturday, August 27, 2011: 10:00am-2:00pm
3:00pm: Mission Hills Public Tennis Courts - tree planting 
(intersection of Randolph & Washington Pl. )
4:00pm: reception for Henry Sanchez - 4021 Miller St, San Diego, CA 92103

This volunteer tree planting and educational event will welcome Henry Sanchez - professor of mathematics and environmental engineering from Columbia S.A. at the public tennis courts in Mission Hills. (Intersection of Randolph and Washington) Following the public service tree planting, join Henry and the Mission Hills Garden Club at a reception to hear him speak about his travels, his goals and his message. Donations will be accepted to support the San Diego Tree Club's outreach effort, but registration for this event is FREE.  Also at this reception, ISA Certified Arborist Robin Rivet will offer advice about how to choose and plant the best and healthiest trees for your home, school or business. She will provide handouts and FREE workshop information about CCSE's Advice and Technical Assistance Center for Urban Forestry.

The speaker Henry Sanchez, (the Tacolist.com Barefoot Eco-Runner), is running from Argentina to Alaska to bring awareness and education of protecting and reforesting our planet. As he enters each city, local volunteers and community organizations join him to plant trees, recycle and collect garbage, and present educational talks. He crossed the border in San Ysidro on August 18, 2011 and this event will be his third appearance in San Diego, and he will speak to the audience through a translator.

Saturday, August 20, 2011: 10:00am-2:00pm
Linda Vista Public Library
2160 Ulric St, San Diego, California 92111

This volunteer tree planting and educational event will welcome Henry Sanchez - professor of mathematics and environmental engineering from Columbia, S.A. at the Linda Vista Public library. Please join Henry and crews of youth corps members from the San Diego Urban Corps in planting trees at the library and the surrounding neighborhood. Our speaker Henry Sanchez, is running from Argentina to Alaska to bring awareness to protecting and reforesting our planet. As he enters each city, local volunteers and community organizations join him to plant trees, recycle and collect garbage, and present educational talks. He is now ready to bring this eco-message to the United States and he is due to cross the border in San Ysidro on August 18, 2011. This will be his second public appearance in the US, and he will speak to the audience through a translator. Also at this event, CCSE's ISA Certified Arborist Robin Rivet will offer onsite advice about how to choose and plant the best and healthiest trees for your home, school or business. She will be giving a brief tree presentation prior to this event, and provide handouts and FREE workshop information about CCSE's Advice and Technical Assistance Center for Urban Forestry.

Wednesday, August 10, 2011: 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
California Center for Sustainable Energy
8690 Balboa Ave., Suite 100, San Diego, CA 92123

This workshop was developed especially for practicing landscape architects and landscape design professionals. Our expert panel of ISA Certified Arborists will discuss tools which integrate aspects of science that are the underpinning of great landscape design.  These tools can open doors to smarter project management, provide key resources to predict the future sustainable benefits of landscapes, and offer documentation for better urban land conservation, watersheds and habitat.

Compelling design meets environmental stewardship

• Design aids for diversity: Our hotspot is cooling
Robin Rivet: ISA Certified Arborist, UCCE Master Gardener

• Filling the future forest: Why urban trees are falling or failing
Jeremy Rappoport: ISA Certified Arborist, FEWA, CLCA

• Beyond CAD: Cool tools for calculating benefits of sustainable design
Nancy Humenik-Sappington: ISA Certified Arborist and tree risk assessor, ASCA

This class is now completed 

July 7, 2011: 5:30-7:30pm

CA Licensed Landscape Contractor and ISA Certified Arborist Steve Jacobs, presents this workshop to help do-it-yourselfers and small businesses improve and update their irrigation and drainage skills for healthier, more sustainable landscapes. Topics will include information about sensors, timers, the latest low flow and drip systems, and tips for retrofitting or complete overhauls.  He will also discuss when and how to hire a licensed landscape contractor, and what you need to know about regulations, liability and municipal ordinances.

June 2, 2011:  5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Tom Del Hotal is an ISA certified arborist, Southwestern College adjunct faculty member and chairman of the California Rare Fruit Growers San Diego chapter.

Robin Rivet is CCSE's urban forester for ATAC, an ISA certified arborist and UCCE master gardener.  She will offer advice on choosing and locating the best species and specimens for your home, school or business.

Tips from a Pro: Sustainable Landscape Practices - Low Cost/High Impact

• April 14, 2011:  5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
  Lynlee Austell Slaytor, a UC Davis-trained sustainable landscape expert and UCCE master gardener, introduces three simple tiers of strategies to manage landscapes more sustainably. She will surprise you with energy-saving best management practices that range from no-cost procedural changes to complete landscape makeovers.

Join us on March 2, 2011 as we launch the new Advice and Technical Assistance Center for Urban Forestry (ATAC), funded by CALFIRE. The event will begin with a workshop, Sustainable Landscaping 101, 4:30 - 5:30 p.m., followed by an Open House 5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

Sarah Volpe, SDERC librarian

The Urban Forestry collection of books, publications and DVDs is part of the Energy Resource Library at CCSE.  The CCSE's Energy Resource Library offers books, DVDs and periodicals on subjects that reflect CCSE's five areas of focus; climate change, energy efficiency, green building, renewables and transportation. These materials cover a broad range of information on these topics and are designed for those in a variety of professions and levels of education and knowledge. The collection will appeal to professionals in the industry, laypersons who want to learn the basics, educators seeking to create awareness with their students and a section designed just for children and young adults. The library has over 90 publications on trees and urban forests.

The Library now has its complete catalog of books, DVDs and tools online with advanced hold for items that can be checked out.  There is a section devoted to Urban Forestry. Simply search by subject, author, title, manufacturer, name or type.  If the material is available, it can be put on hold to be picked up.  Download the Borrowing Agreement Form for details on how to borrow a publication. 

Browse our list of the Urban Forestry collection in our lending library.

What is Meant by Urban Forestry? - What is an Urban Forest?

In its most uninteresting definition an urban forest is the sum of all woody and associated vegetation in and around dense human settlements, ranging from small communities in rural settings to metropolitan regions.

You don't find burly lumberjacks in hard hats with chain saws regularly cutting down trees in an urban forest. Urban forests can be those single trees amid tall skyscrapers that contribute to the beautification of our cities, but also contribute to the welfare of our environment.

National Urban Tree Deficit

In 1986, the National Urban Forest and Community Advisory Council (NUCFAC) conducted a survey to understand the condition of the nation’s street trees, based on a 20-city survey. The first, “State of Our City Forests” (American Forests Magazine June, 1986) reported that urban forests in those cities were in decline, with the average city losing 4 trees for every one planted.
In 1991, American Forests (formerly known as the American Forestry Association) conducted a follow up survey of 20 cities. The findings revealed the continued decline of city street trees, including the alarming statistic that the average life of a downtown street tree is just 13 years.

An estimated 634,407,719 trees are currently missing from metropolitan areas across the United States as the result of urban and suburban development. These calculations are based on American Forests' Urban Ecosystem Analyses conducted over the past six years in ten select cities. Using satellite imagery, American Forests has been able to document the decline of city trees in areas across the United States.

What’s an Urban Tree Worth?

In 2003, the Cedar Fire affected 28,466 acres of land within the San Diego city limits, about 13% of the entire city. Comparing pre- and post-fire conditions in the Cedar Fire area, American Forests reported a loss of 49% tree canopy and 73% each of chaparral and shrub. This loss in vegetation resulted in decreased ecosystem services: Within the Cedar Fire area, storm water runoff increased by 12,674,490 cubic feet. The value of retaining this additional storm water, replacing what the trees did for free, is estimated at $25,349,000. The ability of the lost canopy to remove air pollutants decreased by 314,870 pounds per year, a loss in value estimated at $798,000 annually.

The California Urban Forestry Act of 1978 recognized the value of trees in the urban environment and directs the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection to manage them.

The San Diego County Cedar Fire in 2003 had a significant deleterious effect on air quality, water quality and storm water runoff.  These changes are described quantitatively in a report published by AmericanForests.org.

Advice and Technical Assistance Center (ATAC) for Urban Forestry

ATAC is a program of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE)

To improve understanding of the importance of plants and trees in developed areas, the California Center for Sustainable Energy has established an Advice and Technical Assistance Center ( ATAC) for Urban Forestry. ATAC is a program of the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and funded by a $400,000 CAL FIRE grant to promote urban forestry and sustainable landscaping.

ATAC's main goal is to enable and facilitate a wide range of urban forestry projects in the San Diego region. ATAC is the central meeting place for people to learn both the how-to and best practices in urban landscaping. Through education, outreach and technical assistance, ATAC provides metrics for use by decision-makers and citizens alike when reaching to meet pressing water conservation and greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals under Assembly Bill 32 (The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006) and the Integrated Regional Water Management Plan (IRWMP). The ATAC also offers public workshops, community events and a lending library.

The Advice and Technical Assistance Center (ATAC) for Urban Forestry is THE central meeting place for people to learn both the “how to” and best practices for trees in urban landscaping. Through education, outreach and technical assistance, ATAC will provide information for decision-makers and citizens alike. ATAC's action will assist in reaching pressing water conservation and greenhouse gas emissions reduction goals under Assembly Bill 32 (The Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006) and the Integrated Regional Water Management (IRWM) Program.

California Center for Sustainable Energy - San Diego Energy Resource Center

Advice and Technical Assistance Center for Urban Forestry

A section of this large educational resource center is devoted to urban forestry and addresses a variety of topics - like quality nursery stock, tree planting advice, urban agriculture and the enormous benefits of urban trees. The entry is a redwood garden arch created by Palomar College's woodworking program.  It was constructed from lumber milled from a 100-year-old decayed redwood tree that had to be removed from Marston Point in San Diego's historic Balboa Park.  Another feature is the slab table made from a downed 100-year-old Torrey pine tree both are examples of practical and sustainable reuse of fallen urban trees.

Prominent on one wall in the visitor center is a large mural depicting an ancient coast live oak tree.  It was photographed by Thomas Kelsey during a taping for an episode of Huell Howser's "California's Gold." The tree is situated just north of the San Diego County border on the Pechanga Indian reservation.  It is estimated at 1,000 to 1,500 years old. The sign suggests that there is reason for concern, as San Diego's urban forest is losing trees at an alarming rate.

ATAC provides many resources on growing fruit and nut trees,
choosing hybrids and rootstock, pruning techniques,
disease issues, integrated pest management
and size control.

Considering that most trees have the potential to outlive the people who plant them, the impact of this decision is one that can influence a lifetime. Match the tree to the site, and both lives will benefit.

First decide what tree features you want:
Trees are Good has a good discussion of how to identify your needs.

Now use this search tool to help you identify the exact tree that meets your needs:
Urban Forest Ecosystems Institute has a database of 1481 trees with 49 attributes. This is the grand-daddy of tree search engines; it's from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo.

For a second but smaller opinion, also check:
City of Los Angeles, Urban Forestry Division, Tree Selection Guide gives you a search of a 150-tree database useful in Los Angeles and of course San Diego.

Next, if this is going to be a street tree, i.e., in your parking strip, check to see if the City of San Diego shows your choice as an "acceptable" street tree:
The San Diego, Street Division, Urban Forestry has tree information specific to San Diego.  Click on Tree Selection Guide to find the street trees acceptable for City of San Diego residents. If you don't like any of these, you may request approval from the Street Tree Division.  Regardless of the street tree you wish to plant, all street trees planted in City of San Diego need to be approved via a No Fee Street Tree Planting Permit.

If you already have a tree and want to know what kind it is:
Look at the Arbor Day Foundation, What Tree is That? to use an automated tree ID program which asks you questions and narrows down the identity of your tree. This does not have all trees growing in the west, but it contains many common ones.

And finally, some free stuff:
The Arbor Day Foundation gives away 10 free trees with levels of membership (some would even grow in our climate zone).

San Diego has one of the best climates for all types of fruit, from tropical and sub-tropical types like mangos and avocados to stone fruit like cherries and peaches.  Surprising to many, pears and apples also grow fairly very well in our mild region.

For fruits trees to successfully produce most require a certain number of hours of cold temperatures before they will bear.  This is called the chill hour and it is an annual requirement.  Chill hours vary by region.  Expect more chill hours in Julian than Coronado.  A broad definition and a table of values for California has been compiled by the University of California Agricultural and Natural Resources Department.  Once the number of chill hours has been found, choose a variety of your desired fruit tree that will requires those chill hours or less.

In 1997 the California Rare Fruit Growers of San Diego published a table of stone fruit varieties for milder climates.  Many of these varieties are still available.  However, as stone fruit is a commodity, new varieties are regularly developed, particularly for southern California.   Look at information by commercial growers for current fruit for your local climate.  A local nursery should also stock varieties that will do well in your local area.

Wood treated under pressure with Chromated Copper Arsenate (CCA) is resistant to termites and decay, however it does contain arsenic, which is a carcinogenic. You should wear gloves, protective glasses and a dust mask when cutting and handling CCA treated wood.

Some arsenic in CCA treated wood will leach out into the surrounding soil, but it quickly binds to clay particles and does not move far.  Most soils naturally contain some arsenic.  Roots growing near treated wood could absorb more arsenic than usual, but the amount in the fruit from your trees should not be very much, and should not be a significant health hazard.

CCA treated wood is being phased out for residential use.  Other compounds which do not contain arsenic will be used as a wood preservative.  You may be able to obtain wood that is not treated with CCA from a local lumberyard.  You could also use Redwood, which is naturally decay resistant but it can be damaged by termites.

Some retail nurseries sell lady beetles and a few other beneficial insects. You can also find a list of suppliers of beneficial organisms in North America at: SUPPLIERS OF BENEFICIAL ORGANISMS IN NORTH AMERICA. Most gardens and landscapes already have a complex of beneficial insects and other natural enemies which control pests.

You can increase the effectiveness of these beneficial biological control agents by not applying insecticides which leave a persistent toxic residue on plant foliage. If you need to use an insecticide, try insecticidal soap or horticultural oil which kill pests on contact and are less harmful to beneficial insects. Plants should also be washed periodically with a forceful spray of water to remove dust and other debris which interferes with the activity of beneficial insects. Ants may also interfere with biological control and make pest populations worse. They feed on sugary secretions of aphids, whiteflies and other sap sucking pests and drive off or kill beneficial insects which help control the pests.

Ants can be controlled with toxic bait which they take back to their nests. Trees can be protected from ants with a sticky barrier like Tanglefoot which can be applied on a strip of paper wrapped around the trunk. A San Diego County Master Gardener shows how to apply Tanglefoot.

The green powdery material is probably dry algae. It often grows on the surface of the bark on portions of a tree's trunk or branches when moisture is present. Algae does not harm citrus trees and does not need to be controlled.

Borers often attack fruit and ornamental trees that are weak or damaged by sunburn. Live tissue beneath the bark can be killed by heat from the sun on the south side of a tree's trunk and the top side of horizontal branches. The trunk and major branches of newly planted and container grown trees should be painted with whitewash to protect the bark from sunburn damage. You can use a commercial whitewash sold at some garden centers, or you can dilute white interior flat latex paint with an equal amount of water. Also, irrigate as needed to provide adequate soil moisture for young trees. Wait until leaves and shoots are actively growing, then feed lightly with a fertilizer containing nitrogen. Scatter a small amount of fertilizer around the tree at least one foot from the trunk and water well to dissolve.

The Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Homoptera: Psyllidae) is a pest of citrus and close relatives of citrus. Asian citrus psyllid damages plants directly through its feeding activities. New shoot growth that is heavily infested by psyllids does not expand and develop normally and is more susceptible to breaking off. While direct damage is serious, there is even greater concern that the psyllid is an efficient vector of the bacterium that causes the economically devastating disease citrus greening, or Huanglongbing.

Citrus greening disease was first detected in the United States in Florida in 2005. It is found throughout Asia, the Indian subcontinent and neighboring islands, the Saudi Arabian peninsula, and since 2004 in the São Paulo state of Brazil. The citrus greening pathogen is transmitted by psyllid vectors, grafting, and possibly by citrus seed. A disease-free citrus budwood program combined with detection and eradication of Asian citrus psyllid are essential components of the program that protects the California citrus industry from citrus greening disease.

Symptoms of citrus greening include yellow shoots and mottling and chlorosis of the leaves . The mottling superficially resembles zinc deficiency. However, the mottling associated with citrus greening disease does not run only along the veins as in zinc deficiency, but will cross leaf veins. Infected trees are stunted, sparsely foliated, and may bloom off season. In addition, there is twig dieback, leaf and fruit drop, and production of small, lopsided, hard fruit with small, dark, aborted seeds. The juice of the infected fruit has a bitter taste. Fruit do not color properly, leading to the name "greening". Citrus greening is one of the most devastating diseases of citrus in the world.

One of the key measures to slow the spread of citrus greening disease is to observe the quarantine and not transport home grown citrus fruit or plants outside the quarantine area.

University of California Citrus Psyllid Publication

Citrus Research Board Publication

Questions and answers about the Asian citrus psyllid quarantine in San Diego County

Imperial and San Diego Counties Quarantine Area

San Diego, CA- August 31, 2009…The gold-spotted oak borer is a newly detected insect pest that affects California black oaks, coast live oaks, and canyon live oaks in southern California, and which is believed to be responsible for significant tree mortality in San Diego County. Over 17 thousand trees have been killed across 28 thousand acres in and around the communities of Descanso, Guatay and Pine Valley. Federal, state, and local officials are taking action now, while the oak borer infestation still covers only a portion of the county, in hopes of reducing the scope of the insect's spread. Indicators that a tree may be infested include crown thinning, the beginning of significant leaf dropping, and die-back of twigs.

The University of California, Cooperative Extension has created the Gold Spotted Oak Borer web site to provide further information about local resources and a map of the infested areas. Instructions on how to send a sample from a tree that may be infested by the oak borer to the County of San Diego Department of Agriculture, Weights and Measures is included.

Officials have not yet determined a way to stop the spread of the oak borer completely. However, community members are requested to do three things to help limit the spread of the oak borer throughout the county and reduce the chances that more oaks will die on private and public lands:

1. Do not transport oak firewood into or out of campgrounds or parks.
2. Leave oak firewood at home and use local sources of firewood when you camp or have picnics.
3. When you use local oak firewood, leave any unburned wood on-site when you return home.

Stopping the transportation of oak firewood is important because the oak borer typically lays its eggs in bark crevices. The larvae grow to be 18 mm long and 3 mm wide. As they grow and feed, the larvae dig into the tree, creating tunnels--or "galleries"--on the surface of the sapwood. These feeding habits kill sections of a tree and, over a period of a few years, the entire tree itself. As they mature, the oak borers leave the tree by making D-shaped exit holes about 3 mm wide. The oak borers are compact and bullet-shaped. They can be identified easily by their dull, metallic green color and the three golden spots that are located on each wing.

The following three methods can be used to help reduce potential oak borer populations in dead and/or dying trees. These methods are listed in decreasing order of effectiveness.

1. Chip infested material: Chipping infested oak wood to one-inch pieces is the best method for eliminating oak borer populations.
2. Cover infested wood: If oak firewood cannot be chipped, cover the wood with 6 mm, UV-stabilized, durable plastic tarps beginning in the spring. Tarps should be used until the end of September. Pin or otherwise secure all the edges of the tarp to the ground to prevent beetles from escaping. It is best to tarp oak firewood piles in continual direct sunlight with a southern exposure. Check the tarp periodically to ensure that it does not shred and therefore allow escape routes for the oak borers.
3. Season oak firewood with bark removed in direct sunlight: Scatter oak firewood in areas in direct sunlight, preferably with a southern exposure, for an entire growing season. Cut or split large pieces of wood into smaller pieces to enhance drying. Removing and destroying the bark also can facilitate control of the oak borer. Turn over the firewood monthly to expose all edges to direct sunlight.

Fertilizing in the fall is not recommended. Rather, fertilize 2 or 3 times in the spring (February through May.) See the Master Gardener citrus guide for additional information.

Call the Master Gardener "Hortline", 9:00 AM-3.00 PM daily Monday through Friday to obtain assistance from a Master Gardener.  Or, use the Send Us an Email from their web site and a Master Gardener will contact you.

Do you need to find research documents?
What about customizable fact sheets?
Download FREE posters and window signs?
Do you want to get involved or donate?

Visit the California Urban Forests Council

Community Highlight:

San Diego County Tree Map

Sight a Tree, Site a tree, Cite a tree: It's easy to add trees

We want YOU to add trees to our public tree inventory from your residence, business, school, park or place of worship. You'll just need a tape measure and a the name of the tree. There are tools available to help you determine an unknown tree species.

Education Updates

NewSchool of Architecture + Design
Masters in Landscape Architecture
First time available in San Diego County!

Mira Costa College
New certificate and degree programs in urban forestry, arboriculture, landscape architecture.

What is Meant by Urban Forestry? - What is an Urban Forest?

In its most uninteresting definition an urban forest is the sum of all woody and associated vegetation in and around dense human settlements, ranging from small communities in rural settings to metropolitan regions.

You don't find burly lumberjacks in hard hats with chain saws regularly cutting down trees in an urban forest. Urban forests can be those single trees amid tall skyscrapers that contribute to the beautification of our cities, but also contribute to the welfare of our environment.

An interactive map that displays and quantifies the ecological and economic benefits of trees in urban areas of San Diego County will be available online beginning March 1.

See Brochure : Tree Map Workshop