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Extension: Urban Forestry

Urban foresters attend to trees within the City of Knoxville.

The importance of trees, vegetation, and landscaping in urban areas cannot be understated. They help to cool cities, improve air quality and water quality, and help create desirable, pedestrian-friendly spaces. Our Urban Forestry Extension provides valuable, expert information on tree and urban landscape care and maintenance for private citizens, municipalities, and industry.

Contact

Sharon Jean-Philippe
Professor
865-974-2946
jeanphil@utk.edu

Resources

Webinar Series

The Tennessee Urban Forestry Council and UT Residential and Community Forestry Workgroup have joined forces to bring you free educational seminars to help you manage urban forests. The webinars are limited to 1,000 participants.

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023, 11am Central / 12pm Eastern

Urban Strike Teams: Nashville – Davidson County

Speaker:
Eric Kuehler
Arborist
Metro Water Services
Metro-Davidson County, TN

Approved for 1-CEU ISA Certified Arborist

Register here.

Webinar replays:

Residential and Community Forestry Resources

Meet the Residential and Community Forestry Workgroup

Residential and Community Forestry News

  • Tree dropping leaves ahead of cooler, fall weather.
  • Plant with disease issue grows outside student housing.
  • Tree with little foliage grows outside building.

Tree News You Can Use: Leaves Drop… It’s What Trees Do!

Tree News You Can Use: Drought Stress in Landscape Trees

Tree News You Can Use: Utility Vegetation Management

  • Power poles and lines stand near tall tree.
  • Power pole stands near tree.

Tree News You Can Use: Envisioning Your Mosaic Palette for Your Garden

  • A tree grows in a circle of flowers and other plants.
  • Several flowers grow next to a large bush in a flowerbed.
  • Flowers and plants grow from three light blue ceramic pots in different sizes.
  • Two benches hold flowerbeds in the middle instead of seats, and a side table also holds a flowerbed in its middle.

Tree News You Can Use: Did the December Freeze Kill My Tree?

Brown needles on tree

Tree News You Can Use: Emerging and Recurring Pest

  • Crape Myrtle Bark Scale on crape myrtle tree
  • Crape Myrtle Bark Scale on twig

Tree News You Can Use: Reducing Stressors in the Landscape

Tree News You Can Use: Fungi – The Wood Destroyers

Wood-decay fungi causes large wounds on tree.
Large wounds on trees are often a site of inoculation by wood-decay Fungi. These injuries can lead to potential wood degradation, exposure to the elements, and ultimately, a loss of strength.
Fungal threads known as hyphae grown from tree bark.
While we may often see the fruiting bodies on our trees,
the mycelium (a grouped network of fungal threads known as hyphae) are less commonly seen.
Fall mushrooms sprout from the base of a tree.

Omphalotus illudens (Jack-O’-Lantern) is a common fall mushroom sprouting at the base of trees.
As a saprobic fungus, this mushroom is commonly found on degraded roots and stumps of hardwoods.
Fungus grows on tree.
Inonotus dryadeus (Warted Oak Polypore) is a fungus that causes root and buttress rots (particularly on Oak trees). Trees become structurally compromised and may topple before the tree shows any major symptoms.

Tree News You Can Use: The Beauty of Trees

Tree News You Can Use: Mulch Is Good!

In this photo, mulch has been applied too deep and too close to the stem, creating “mulch volcanoes.”

Tree News You Can Use: Planting Depths: When is Low Too Low?

Tree News You Can Use: What’s Bugging Your Trees This Spring?

Tree News You Can Use: Plant Health Care

  • A topped Crape Myrtle. Topping negatively impacts the aesthetics, structure, and health of landscaped trees.

Tree News You Can Use: Fall Planting Season is Underway

  • Girdling roots are common in container-grown trees.
    Girdling roots are common in container-grown trees.
  • Improperly placed trees are more likely to succumb to declines and early tree death.
    Improperly placed trees are more likely to succumb to declines and early tree death.
  • Poor planting practices, such as leaving straps attached to root balls, can eventually girdle the tree.
    Poor planting practices, such as leaving straps attached to root balls, can eventually girdle the tree.

Tree News You Can Use: Tennessee Champion Tree Program

Sharon Jean-Philippe and Lee Rumble speak with Brad and April Petree of Petree Arbor, Lawn and Landscape.

Tree News You Can Use: Hiring the Right Tree Care Company Part II: Pruning Techniques

  • Large pruning cuts take longer to compartmentalize (i.e., close). The longer a pruning cut remains open, the more succeptible the tree is to wood decay and fungi.
    Large pruning cuts take longer to compartmentalize (i.e., close). The longer a pruning cut remains open, the more succeptible the tree is to wood decay and fungi.
  • Very large pruning cuts or tears from limb losses may never fully compartmentalize (i.e., close), leaving behind an open cavity.
    Very large pruning cuts or tears from limb losses may never fully compartmentalize (i.e., close), leaving behind an open cavity.
  • The size of the cut, as well as timing, matter can help reduce sap flow.
  • Small pruning cuts are rapidly compartmentalized, or closed.

Tree News You Can Use: Hiring the Right Tree Care Company Part I: Pruning

Tree News You Can Use: Spring Planting Selections

Eastern redbud blooms indicate the beginning of spring and bloom from late March to mid-April.
Eastern redbud blooms indicate the beginning of spring and bloom from late March to mid-April.
The ubiquitous dogwood offers blooms in early April.
The ubiquitous dogwood offers blooms in early April.
Yellow bird magnolias put on a show of goblet-shaped flowers in April.
Yellow bird magnolias put on a show of goblet-shaped flowers in April.
The starry blooms of star magnolias can be seen in March.
The starry blooms of star magnolias can be seen in March.
Carolina Silverbells flower in April and May.
Carolina Silverbells flower in April and May.

Tree News You Can Use: Trees and Winter Weather

Close-up of rough tree bark.
Some tree barks can be identified from many yards away.
A large tree is silhouetted against a sunset.
The contrast of tree trunks against the landscape shows the beauty of the tree.
A large, old tree shows it structure during dormant months.
Tree structure can best be evaluated during the dormant season.
A close-up of rough, chunky tree bark.
Tree bark is multifunctional and brings texture into our landscapes.
Young, newly formed leaves emerge from a tree exiting dormancy.
Soon, a wide variety of newly formed leaves will emerge.

Tree News You Can Use: Selecting and Establishing the Right Plant: Fall Planting Part 2

Tree News You Can Use: Selecting and Establishing the Right Plant

  • Avoid trees with any obvious defects along the main trunk or branches.
  • Discolored and girdling roots will lead to slow plant decline.
  • Pay attention and seek out high quality graft unions, as shown here.
  • Ensure proper planting depth in the container. This tree was planted too deeply.
  • Good quality rooting habits will go a long way in ensuring long-term tree survival.
  • Seek out trees with well-developed trunk taper, free of errant roots.
  • This tree was planted too closely to a building.
    Trees are phototropic organisms; always reaching for sunlight. When trees are planted too closely to buildings, they may develop excessive lean angles.
  • This tree was planted too closely to a building.
    Select appropriate species when planting near buildings. When planted too closely, they must be pruned more frequently, leading to additional stress on the tree.
  • This tree was planted too closely to a building.
    Always consider the mature size of the tree when planting near buildings.
Tree failures can lead to major damages to structures.
Tree failures can lead to major damages to structures.
Mature Hackberry tree that fell on a historic house in Nashville, TN.
Mature Hackberry tree that fell on a historic house in Nashville, TN.
Tree failures can damage both property and life.
Tree failures can damage both property and life.
Fallen trees that come in contact with high-voltage powerlines are extremely dangerous.
Fallen trees that come in contact with high-voltage powerlines are extremely dangerous.
Uprooted pine trees following heavy, saturating rains.
Uprooted pine trees following heavy, saturating rains.
Uprooted Tulip Poplar that fell against a condominium.
Uprooted Tulip Poplar that fell against a condominium.

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Important Phone Numbers:

Academic Inquiries:
865-974-7987

Forestry & Wildlife Extension:
865-974-7346

General Inquiries:
865-974-7126

Bookkeeping/Invoicing:
865-974-7986

School Director:
865-974-2706

Fax: 865-974-4714

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