August is Tree Check Month

August is Tree Check Month!— have you started to participate? Here are a few simple yet effective steps you can take to be involved:  Like Washington Invasive Species Council (WISC) social media pages (click here for Facebook or Twitter), as they provide daily updates on what to lookout for in tree pests.Register for a Pest …

Coordinator’s Corner—August

The coronavirus upended our lives approximately five months ago, and prevailing wisdom suggests that the financial fallout from COVID-19 will be far worse than the great recession of 2008. Even the most fiscally stable jurisdictions may find themselves stretched to provide essential services in the months and years to follow. Considering the incredible benefits provided …

Entiat Connects Community to “Trees that Belong Here”

Information about the 2021 DNR Urban and Community Forestry Grant opportunities will be made available on our website in September here. Congratulations to the City of Entitat, which recently completed their WA DNR Small Community Forestry Assistance Grant supported project this summer! The project was completed at the Columbia Breaks Fire Interpretative Center—a site featuring …

INFOGRAPHIC: Washington’s Tree City USA Communities by the Numbers

In its 44th year, the Tree City USA program is still going strong, helping communities structure, manage, and expand their public tree initiatives. Every year, the Arbor Day Foundation sends us the Tree City USA program, Tree Campus Higher Education (formally Tree Campus USA program), and Tree Line USA program summaries for each state. These infographics …

Hot, Dry Conditions Prompt Commissioner Franz to Enact Statewide Burn Ban

Commissioner’s Order bans outdoor burning on all forestland under DNR fire protection Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz signed an order yesterday creating a statewide burn ban on all forestland under the Washington State Department of Natural Resources’ (DNR) fire protection. This covers 12 million acres of public and private land. The order took effect …

Applications for Tacoma’s 2020 Grit City Trees Program Now Available

Grit City Trees is the City of Tacoma’s free street tree giveaway program. Applications for the 2020 season are being accepted now through Sunday, Aug. 30, for individuals and Sunday, Sept. 6, for group applications. The goal of the program is to equitably increase Tacoma’s tree canopy while growing happy and healthy neighborhoods through community …

Coordinator’s Corner—July

To all of you reading, I hope this finds you healthy and in good spirits. It is clear our return to ‘normal’ will be a slow and stepwise process, but as urban foresters, we are always thinking about the future of our work. This is complicated by the great uncertainties we face in this moment. …

2020’s Great American Tree: Washington’s own Douglas fir

This feature was written with source information from the American Grove and Gifford Pinchot National Forest websites. Each year on July 4th, American Grove recognizes the annual Great American Tree. Selected through nationwide submissions from residents showcasing their community forests and notable trees and voted on by members, the trees are narrowed down to the …

Urban Forest Pest Highlight: Spotted Lanternfly

Soon the height of summer will be upon us, or as we like to call it, August Tree Check Month—the time of year when we receive many reports on potential forest threats. Have you ever checked your trees for signs of invasive forest pests? Summer is one of the best times to do so with …

Vancouver’s Old Apple Tree dies, but its legacy lives on

This press release was reposted with permission as it originally appeared on the City of Vancouver's website on June 27, 2020. Click here for the original version. It survived the most severe floods, winds, drought, ice and snow, but not 2020. For all practical purposes, Vancouver’s venerable Old Apple Tree has died at the age …

Soil joins list of regulated materials as part of apple maggot quarantine

This news release has been reposted with permission from the Washington State Department of Agriculture The Washington State Department of Agriculture (WSDA) finalized a rule change which adds certain soils and growing medium to the list of regulated materials pursuant to the apple maggot quarantine. The updated rule takes effect on July 11. The apple …