Posts in Tree News
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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Council Approves Provisions for Trees in Compact Development

In March 2024, legislation on new development in the city of Nashville was passed that now includes critical provisions for trees thanks to efforts led by Will Worrell, Nashville Tree Conservation Corps co-founder and board member. As part of NTCC’s mission to promote, preserve, protect, and plant trees in Nashville, contributing our expertise to developing legislation that positively affects the presence of trees in the city is an essential way of supporting our neighborhood canopies today and into the future.

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Come See the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps in Action This April!

Creating awareness about canopy care is one of the most important ways to keep our city green! To help spread the message, the Nashville Tree Conservation Corps team will have a booth at two events in April 2024: Nashville’s Earth Day festival on Saturday, April 20th, and Honeytree Meadery’s Arbor Day celebration on Sunday, April 28th. Come have a conversation with us and join your Nashville neighbors in honoring our environment and its produce! 

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Tree of the Month: Frontier Elm

Elm trees can be found across the northern hemisphere, and while many were decimated in the twentieth century by Dutch elm disease, elm tree varieties have since been bred by nurseries to be resistant to the disease. The Frontier elm is one such cultivar, and it’s prized not just for its resilience but also for its more compact size, urban hardiness, and beautiful burgundy foliage in the fall. Here, we’ll go over why this elm tree has become such a popular planting choice.

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Pollen: Essential for the Environment, Despite Allergies

When spring arrives, we welcome the warm weather, but for some of us, pollen season can range from annoying to downright disruptive. However, pollen is half of the reproductive equation of a plant, and it’s the material that needs to be moved from flower to flower for plants to make seeds. Since pollen must be distributed for trees, flowers, grasses, and food crops, successful pollination is crucial for robust and livable environments.

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How Many Kinds of Cherry Trees Are There?

There are many variations of the cherry trees that we can appreciate in different ways throughout the year. There’s no better time to take in the beauty of Nashville’s cherry blossoms than the month of April; the annual Nashville Cherry Blossom Festival will be held this year on Saturday, April 13th in Nashville Public Square Park. Visitors will be able to view many kinds of cherry trees in all their spring splendor!

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Tree of the Month: Yoshino Cherry

While there are many shapes and sizes of cherry blossom trees, the most popular cultivar among them is the Yoshino cherry blossom—a medium-height tree with a stout crown that, for a few weeks in mid-spring, bursts into bloom with bunches of blushing white flowers. Here, we’ll go over this cultivar’s background, the conditions it thrives in, as well as some suggestions on where you can enjoy this tree’s spectacular display in Nashville this spring.

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What to Do With Tree Debris After Spring Winds and Storms

In the wake of spring winds and storms, residents with trees on their properties are likely going to find woody debris of all sizes. In this article, we provide some practical guidance on using fallen branches and other debris to help care for Nashville’s urban forest. Instead of just dragging the woody material to the curb for pickup, consider these garden-friendly ways to use tree debris! 

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Shelby Avenue Arboretum Website

Every tree that someone planted was a decision made, and the Shelby Avenue Arboretum is a project backed up with lots of heartfelt, thoughtful consideration that you can learn all about on its official website! At shelbyarboretum.org, residents and visitors of Nashville can read about how and why these trees were planted, curated, and chosen for specific themes; they can also find visual experiences and discover key ecological highlights about these trees. In this article, we’ll take a tour through the arboretum’s website as an introduction to this information-rich resource on these vibrant living exhibitions.

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Storm Preparedness: Protect Your Nashville Trees

When seasons change, Nashville can reliably expect storms to arise from the fluctuations in temperature. The high winds that accompany rain, thunder, and lighting can have mild to devastating effects on the trees in our neighborhoods, from broken branches to whole fallen trees. While we can’t eliminate all risks, preventive maintenance routines can help homeowners avoid damage from weather events. Prepare for the unpredictable with our guide to safeguarding your trees and avoiding damage during Nashville’s stormy weather!

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Tree of the Month: Red Maple

As one of the most common trees in North America, the red maple (Acer rubrum) can be seen in most places in the Eastern United States. The species is treasured as a robust shade tree that does well in neighborhoods and many urban settings. The tones of red on these maples add to their appeal, from the spring buds and flowers to fiery fall foliage. Here, we’ll go over the many reasons red maple trees thrive in Nashville and help Nashville thrive.

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