Floods can occur anywhere, but urban areas experience increased frequency and severity of flooding events. This is a result of the high percentage of impervious surfaces, such as pavement and roofs, which force water to “run” rather than soak into …
How can I minimize the energy cost of my tree planting and maintenance?
“Energy cost” refers to the amount of energy consumed to do something. One example might be the cost of fuel it takes to transport your planting stock from point A to point B. Another example might be the amount of …
I have compacted soils. Which shade trees can tolerate these conditions?
Soils with a significant clay or loam component are much more compactable than sandy soils. Once compacted, soils are very slow to “de-compact” naturally. Mulching, air tilling, plug aeration, and deep or shallow tillage of the soil can mitigate soil …
How do I prevent my trees from causing problems for my neighbors?
When you plant a tree in your yard, think about all of the ways it will affect your neighbors. Will it shade their garden? Will it push on fences? Will it shade their solar collectors? Of course to assess this, …
What is a life cycle assessment (LCA)?
Life cycle assessment is the accounting of resource inputs, outputs, and net gain or loss over the lifetime of a product. It’s just like accounting for a financial budget, but instead of money, it considers resources, which may or may …
Will too much shade on a house cause problems?
Shade on your home can help reduce energy costs by reducing the cooling requirements inside your home. Air conditioning units also benefit from being shaded and operate more efficiently while shaded.
Shade may result in some nuisance problems, like increased …
Can trees negatively affect energy consumption for heating and cooling?
Trees too close to your home can produce unwanted shade that will decrease sunlight, prevent ice from melting on pavements, and increase heating costs during the winter. To combat these issues, plant deciduous trees that lose their leaves and allow …
What is a carbon credit?
A carbon credit can be considered simply as a payment for a service. The service being provided is a reduction of the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. The credit is offered as an incentive to spur actions that …
macroclimate
the climate that lies just beyond the local modifying irregularities of landform and vegetation.…
Which trees should I avoid planting if I have tree allergies?
Trees produce a lot of pollen at certain times of year. However, some trees are “dioecious,” meaning they have either male or female reproductive parts, not both, like monoecious species. If you can find a dioecious tree that is a …