Editor’s Note: This content is courtesy the City of Davis Environmental Resources Division and the Greener Davis program.

Did you know that when a City tree is removed, it is replaced with a new tree? To maintain and strengthen the City’s urban tree canopy, the City of Davis’ Urban Forestry Division makes every effort to replace trees that are removed with replanted trees generally in the same location, however all location options are assessed prior to planting by the City arborist to identify the best spot for the tree species.

The City is in the middle of the current planting season, and letters are being sent to property owners who are getting replacement trees to let them know a new tree will be planted. While trees certainly offer a myriad of benefits to the properties where they are planted, the contribution of trees to our overall community can’t be understated!

Trees:

  1. Improve air quality
  2. Improve water quality
  3. Provide energy savings
  4. Increase property values and provide aesthetic benefits
  5. Provide wildlife habitat
  6. Improve overall health and wellbeing

After your City tree is planted, don’t forget all of the important actions you can take to help our trees thrive. Young trees need at least 15 gallons of water per week during periods without significant rain. Adding mulch can help to retain water (and decrease weeds), and keeping the base of the tree clear of turf and other plantings can remove any competition for those essential nutrients and water.

More information on trees:

  1. What is a City Tree
  2. Caring for Trees
  3. City of Davis Urban Forestry Program

Climate Change and Trees

The following is an excerpt from the City’s recently adopted Urban Forest Management Plan, focused on how changes to the climate have impacted our urban forest:

Increasingly, cities are recognizing that climate change and the associated shifts in weather patterns are likely to alter species habitat ranges and render some species less adapted to the region. Research on climate change in complex urban ecosystems is challenging and still evolving. Although there is no clear consensus on the future outcomes, it is thought that extraordinary weather events are likely to increase in years to come. In recent years, Davis has experienced increased storm intensity, which can lead to higher wind speeds and flood conditions. Urban ecosysystems have also experienced prolonged droughts. As temperatures rise and precipitation patterns fluctuate from historical norms, existing trees must adapt or succumb to the changes in climate.

With the likelihood of continued stress on tree species due to climate change, the City, in conjunction with UC Davis and other local urban forestry professionals, is working toward a comprehensive, climate-ready species list, utilizing metrics to determine which species are best adapted for the region’s current and future climate. These “climate-ready” trees are trees that are likely better suited to the new climate trends in the region with traits that allow them to resist pests and disease, be drought tolerant and withstand other stressors, such as increased soil salinity and wind.

If you’re looking to plant a tree of your own and would like to consider a climate ready tree, keep an eye out for updates to the City’s Master Street Tree List as the working group develops recommendations for the City and City Commissions. The hope is to have the new tree list available this summer!

When selecting any trees to plant, careful consideration should be given to growth rates, required maintenance, size, water needs, soil and environment. Be sure to call 811 before you dig to avoid damage to underground utilities www.usanorth811.org

More information about desirable characteristics of trees can be found here: Tree Species Selection | City of Davis, CA

Tree Davis has additional resources to ensure the right tree is selected for the right place.