City Trees is a premier publication focused on urban + community forestry. In each issue, you’ll learn how to best manage the trees in your community and more!
Issue link: http://read.dmtmag.com/i/475555
Last fall, both NYC Parks and the not-for- profit organization Casey Trees successfully applied for an SMA Arborist Exchange. This resulted in the first public/private pairing for the program (previously, all participants were from municipalities). The goal of the exchange is simple: to enable urban foresters to share expertise, management practices, and technolo- gy through an on-site and immersive experience. To that end, I was welcomed for a few days into the Casey Trees family with open arms! You can read about Casey Trees at caseytrees.org. During my exchange I visited the Casey Trees Farm, par- ticipated in tree planting events, and met with staff to discuss the day-to-day management and the long-term vision of the organization. I was also able to witness firsthand Casey's innovative tree-growing practices at their farm as well as past tree plantings completed throughout Washington DC. With everyone I talked to, rode along with, or learned from, I noticed one commonality: passion. Passion to inspire the young, to maximize tree survival, to increase canopy—but perhaps most importantly, true passion for the people and trees of Washington DC. This city is lucky to have Casey Trees, and I can attest that Casey Trees is an expert and trustworthy steward for the urban forest. On the first day I received a first-class tour of the Casey Trees Farm, where the majority of their trees are grown about an hour outside of Washington DC in Clark County, Virginia. I learned that Casey Trees has a diverse toolbox of tree harvesting techniques, ranging from balled-and-burlapped to root bags to container trees. During the tour, we discussed how each transplanting method has its pros and cons that Casey Trees uses to maximize its efficiency depending on the tree planting project—sort of like a Swiss army knife for tree planting that allows them to use the right tool for the right job. For example, growing trees in root bags allows them to harvest trees earlier in the fall growing season while also easing transport and ultimate handling by volunteers. We also spent time discussing how urban foresters and the nursery industry still have a long way to go to per- fect tree production. Both Casey Trees and NYC Parks have observed that field-grown stock can be ruined by subpar nursery practices. While still at the farm, A Shared Passion for Tree Planting: An SMA Arborist Exchange by Matthew Stephens, Director of Tree Planting for NYC Parks and Recreation Tree planting at Casey Tree staff planting • Photo Courtesy Casey Trees 26 City Trees