Posts in Tree News
Everything You Need to Know About Tree Removal

Trees are a precious commodity in urban and suburban areas, so when one needs to be taken down, not only is it particularly noticeable, it may be a sensitive concern for residents. In this article, we’ll go over the reasons why a tree may need to be removed, what sort of equipment professionals use to accomplish the task safely, and the process of taking down a tree cautiously and effectively in a neighborhood setting. 

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NTCC Grant Project With Fisk University: Planting a Campus Canopy

In early 2024, the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps submitted a grant application to the Tennessee Department of Agriculture Division of Forestry for funds toward a collaborative project with Fisk University to revitalize its campus canopy cover. Grant funding has been approved, and the Fisk Tree Canopy Project will begin in the fall!

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Tree of the Month: Southern Magnolia “D.D. Blanchard”

Hardy and elegant, the southern magnolia is a wonderful addition to any Nashville yard! It offers a wide range of benefits, such as beautiful, fragrant flowers and bushy evergreen foliage that provides privacy, shade, and an animal habitat year-round. Here, we’ll go over the “D.D. Blanchard” cultivar, which produces the large, creamy white flowers Nashvillians know and love. Read on to learn all about this superb species and its place in the neighborhood landscape!

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The Historic & Specimen Trees Program

The Metro Historic & Specimen Trees Program helps counter indiscriminate removal of the most significant canopy trees in our city. This gives homeowners some legal power to preserve trees on their property and ensure that even if the property is sold and developed, our big, old beloved trees may remain.

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Trees Between Properties: Who Trims Trees on the Parkway in Nashville?

Oversight and maintenance of the trees found along the street falls under the domain of one of a number of public organizations depending on the particular need, including Metro Water Services (MWS), Nashville Electric Service (NES), and the Nashville Department of Transportation (NDOT). Here, we’ll go over those care situations, as well as how residents can plant new street trees.

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Trees and Nashville Wildlife Part 2: Mammals

Whether they live in trees, burrow under them, or use them to manage their environment, mammal niches both large and small take up space in wooded ecosystems. In this article on the fauna of Nashville’s canopy, we’ll explore the range of mammal relationships with trees and the local food web, also taking a look at how humans (we’re mammals, too!) fit into the mix. 

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Tree of the Month: Overcup White Oak

The overcup oak is a swampy native to the warm bottomlands and wetlands of the southeast. A member of the white oak family, it’s a particularly hardy species whose resilient characteristics, such as flood and drought tolerance, make it an excellent option for urban areas like Nashville.

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What Are the Best Trees for Firewood?

In ovens, fireplaces, fire pits, and grills, wood is a natural source of heat that many of us enjoy. Whether burning firewood for fuel or for enjoyment (or both), the type of wood you choose makes a difference! The heat put off, the length of the burn, and even the scent are all variables when it comes to firewood needs and preferences. However, no matter the species or use, good preparation and storage are essential for a happy fire at home.

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Trees and Nashville Wildlife Part 1: Birds

For birds, tree canopies provide essential habitats, and for trees, birds provide a range of supportive services that help maintain them throughout their lives and across generations. In this article on the fauna of Nashville’s canopy, we’ll explore the deep connections that exist between birds and trees. We’ll also share some tips on selecting trees to attract birds to your own yard to help support the local bird population.

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Branching Out to Help Nashville Grow: Learn About NTCC's Volunteer Program!

To a nonprofit like the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps, volunteers are foundational! This is true throughout the organization; our managerial structure, planting and maintenance teams, generous donors, and caring partners volunteer their time and energy to fulfill our mission of promoting, preserving, protecting, and planting the trees that make up Nashville’s canopy ecosystem. 

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Tree of the Month: Bur Oak

The majestic bur oak tree is a beautiful symbol of environmental health and durability! This gigantic, long-lived oak is an important ecological species and is widely adaptable as a landscape specimen. Here, we’ll go over the features of bur oak trees and their environmental needs while highlighting their contributions to the local ecosystem.

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Thank an Old Tree for Summer Shade!

Among the many wonderful things about trees, one of the most relieving is the knowledge that we can find refuge from the sun under a tall, leafy tree in the heat of summertime. Here, we’ll go over how shade trees make an impact on the climate, which species are sun-loving powerhouses of shade production, and how we benefit from them in multiple ways throughout the warmest months of the year.

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Tree of the Month: Swamp White Oak

There’s an oak for almost every situation, and for clay-heavy or lowland ground, the swamp white oak just might be the right fit! A robust native tree, this beautiful white oak species is a huge, long-lived shade tree that is very important to the local ecosystem, making it all the more fortunate that these tough oaks do well in urban and neighborhood areas.

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From Flowers to Food: Celebrating Pollinators Week

National Pollinator Week 2024 is June 17 to 23, and we at the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps are so grateful for those busy little creatures! In this article, we’ll profile the bees, butterflies, and other wildlife species that move pollen from flower to flower and plant to plant. We’ll also share some information on a delightful Tennessee state program that manages pollinator environments along roadways, and we’ll provide some tips on what residents can do at home to create yards and gardens to attract pollinators. 

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Benefits of Community Involvement in Nashville Tree Conservation

A city’s trees are some of its most valuable assets! They provide a range of fundamental ecosystem services, offset the downsides of the built environment, and add to the beauty of an area. Here, we’ll go over how and why individuals and groups make a big difference in the quality and sustainability of Nashville’s canopy, as well as some tips on getting involved in tree conservation efforts.

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Hearing Cicadas? Here's What You Should Know About These Bugs, Their Sounds, and Their Effects on Nashville Trees

2024 is a special year for the cicada population, as the Eastern United States is experiencing multiple waves of cicada emergences! In addition to the yearly late-summer cicadas, Nashville will be host to a brood of periodical cicadas over springtime, from May until July, roughly. Here, we’ll go over some of the basics on cicadas and what they mean for Nashville’s canopy.

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Tree of the Month: Shumard Red Oak

When selecting a tree for hardiness, size, shade, and ornamental value, the Shumard red oak is a top contender. One of the largest red oaks, this native tree is a great choice for Nashville yards not only for its appealing characteristics, but also for its ability to tolerate the urban area and its variabilities. In this article, we’ll expand on the Shumard oak tree’s most favorable attributes.

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The Role of Trees in Mitigating Nashville's Urban Heat Island Effect

The urban heat island effect occurs when a city’s temperature is significantly higher than the suburban and rural areas surrounding it, which can have severe impacts on human comfort and health. However, urban heat can be diminished by planting more trees and maintaining green spaces throughout the built environment. Here, we’ll go over how heat islands work, what effects increased temperatures can have, and what kind of difference trees and other plants can make to mitigate the hazardous warming effect. 

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Return of the Cicadas: Double Trouble!

For the Eastern United States, springtime in 2024 is going to be unique! Two broods (or breeding groups) of periodical cicadas will emerge. Although Nashville will only see one of these two groups, the insects will be in much larger numbers than the annual cicadas that we hear in summer every year. If you’re located in Wilson or eastern Davidson counties, you may want to avoid making outdoor plans between May and July of this year, when the cicadas will be out in full force for several weeks.

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