Community Trees: Resources

Tree Benefits

To learn how trees benefit our communities far beyond shade and oxygen production, explore the links below!  Curious about the specific value of a tree in your yard?  Check out "MyTree" from i-Tree, a not-for-profit, public/private partnership that combines government, business, and professional organizations.

• Trees Are Good "Benefits of Trees"
• ACTrees "Benefits of Trees and Urban Forests"

Tree Ordinances

An ordinance is a law issued by a local government.  Tree ordinances establish official policies for how a community wants to maintain its trees and establishes legal protections.  Explore the links below to learn how to develop tree ordinances in your community.

• ​NC Coop. Ext. "Developing Successful Tree Ordinances"
• ISA "Guidelines for Developing & Evaluating Tree Ordinances"

Tree Boards

Explore the links below to learn about a tree board and how to start one in your community.

• Arbor Day Foundation's "Tree Board University"
• Example Tree Board: City of Berkley, Michigan Tree Board

How To Plant A Tree (and Keep It Alive)!

Review the basic steps and then explore the links below to learn how to select, plant, and maintain a tree!

1. Select a site and match the tree by following "Right Tree, Right Place" principles.  Perform a soil test to check site conditions and make amendments if necessary.
2. Prep for installation by contacting MISSDIG811, collecting equipment, and checking with your local municipality.
3. Dig the hole the same depth as the root ball and 2-3 times as wide.  Carefully maneuver the tree into the hole and ensure roots are not j-hooked or circling.
4. Backfill, water, and tamp down the soil.  Skip the fertilizer - it can actually hurt newly planted trees!
5. Protect your tree.  Add a mulch ring to prevent injury from lawn mowers and weed whips.  Add fencing or a tree tube to prevent injury from animals.
6. Monitor your tree!  Water during times of drought, especially during the first few growing seasons.  Watch for changes in your tree and seek help from a certified arborist as needed.

More tree planting resources:

• Tree Planting Guides & Resources
• Arbor Day Foundation "Tree Wizard"
• ReLeaf Michigan "A Pocket Guide to Planting Trees"
• USDA "Tree Owners Manual"
• ​Trees Are Good "Mature Tree Care"

Tree Tools: Citizen Scientists

Explore the links below to learn how you can collect data to support trees in your community and beyond!

TreeSnap

Invasive diseases and pests threaten the health of America’s forests. Scientists are working to understand what allows some individual trees to survive, but they need to find healthy, resilient trees in the forest to study. That’s where concerned foresters, landowners, and citizens (you!) can help. Tag trees you find in your community, on your property, or out in the wild using TreeSnap! Scientists will use the data you collect to locate trees for research projects like studying the genetic diversity of tree species and building better tree breeding programs.

i-Naturalist

Record your observations, share with fellow naturalists, and discuss your findings, all while assisting scientists!  Every observation can contribute to biodiversity science, from the rarest butterfly to the most common backyard weed. We Findings are shared with scientific data repositories like the Global Biodiversity Information Facility to help scientists find and use your data.

Nature's Notebook

Track seasonal changes in plants and animals and help scientists track how climate change and weather pattern impact their life cycles.

GLOBE Observer: Trees

Estimate tree height.  Observing tree height allows NASA scientists to understand the gain or loss of biomass which can inform carbon calculations. Tracking how trees are changing over time can help estimate the number of trees that make up an area. Learn more about the science of trees and how NASA studies them.