FAQ: More Tree Information

It's Summer Water Those Newly Planted Trees!!

Newly planted trees should be watered regularly during their first 3 summers. At the height of summer, 10-20 gallons should be applied each week over a 2 hour period. Too much water can choke the roots and be as harmful as too little water. Water too fast and it will just run off into the street.

If you get a 5 gallon plastic bucket and drill a small hole in the bottom, (start with one, see how fast the water runs out and if needed drill more). Place the bucket at the base of the tree and fill it with water. Do that three to four times each week and your new tree will be well watered.

Remember that a well watered tree grows faster too!!

Here's a good one page care summary from the folks at Friends of Trees. Watch the brief videos for tips on how to make watering easy to remember.

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Street Tree Pruning Initiative

The 3 year grant from the Portland's Bureau of Environmental Services that funded the street tree Pruning Initiative has finally come to and end. A summary report of the number of trees pruned in Ladd's Addition over the course of the Grant is underway.

It is very important to keep American elm trees properly pruned, as important as inoculations in preventing the spread of Dutch Elm Disease. SAVE OUR ELMS, was excited to work with the Bureau of Environmental Services, Damon S. with TREECOLOGY INC., the Homeowners in Ladd's Addition and Urban Forestry to help maintain the health of our Mature Urban Canopy.

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What you should know about pruning your elms.

Prune elms only between October 15 and March 31. Elm Bark Beetles are less active during this time of year.

Do not prune elms during the rest of the year. Elm Bark Beetles are more active during this time of year and are attracted to elms when they are pruned. Pruning during the growing season can attract Elm Bark Beetles.

Destroy elm wood promptly by chipping, grinding, or debarking and burning. Dead elm wood with attached bark is the prime breeding ground for the Elm Bark Beetle, the carrier of Dutch Elm Disease.

Do not stack/store any cuttings from elm trees not even as firewood. The Elm Bark Beetle just loves to breed in dead/diseased elm wood.

Do not transport elm wood to another locale. This is one way that DED gets spread from one location to another.

Remove those "volunteer" elms from your yard. We need Elm Volunteers, not volunteer elms. Don't save them for us. SAVE OUR ELMS cannot use them for the neighborhood plantings because they are not a disease resistant variety. When the seedlings grow large enough they too become susceptible to DED infection, turning them into a source for spreading the disease.

Never top street trees. This invites disease and decay.

Don't forget a City permit is required when planting, pruning or removing street trees. There is no fee charged for the Tree Planting or Tree Pruning Permits. There is a fee for the Tree Removal Permit. Here is the link to Urban Forestry's website which has more detailed information. Urban Forestry Department

You can contact the Urban Forestry Division at (503) 823-4489 for permits and tree care advice. For more information on how to prune your trees ask for a copy of Pruning and Care of Young and Mature Trees.

Here is a link to an online PDF copy of this pamphlet: Tree Care or copy http://www.portlandonline.com/parks/index.cfm?c=38294&a=179897 into your web browser.

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What type of street tree should you plant in Ladd's Addition??

Did you know that the varieties of trees planted along the streets of Ladd's Addition are part of our Historic District Designation? Elm trees are planted on elm designated streets, birches, maples have their designated spots as well. If you would like to know what tree is correct for you parking strip contact: planting[AT]saveourelms.org. As a spam spoiler use the @ in place of [AT].

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