The Urban Forestry Council presents annual awards to outstanding individuals, organizations, communities and tribes that further urban forestry in Wisconsin. Awards are presented in the categories of Next Gen, Project Partnerships, Lifetime Achievement, Innovations in Urban Forestry, Leadership and new this year, Species Diversity. Continue reading “Urban Forestry Council Award Nominations Due Oct. 31”
Urban Forestry News
Tree City USA Updates
Tree City USA Interactive Map
Do you know how many Tree City USA communities are in Wisconsin or the longest-running Tree City USA in the state? Find this and other eye-opening information by visiting the new Arbor Day Foundation interactive Tree City USA map. Tree City USA statistics and fun facts are now available for the entire nation, as well as individual states, using this online tool.
Submit Your Tree City USA Application
The Tree City USA program provides communities with a four-step framework to maintain and grow their tree cover. It also provides an avenue to celebrate accomplishments, showing residents, visitors and the entire country their commitment to the mission of environmental change. Continue reading “Tree City USA Updates”
Keep Watering In Fall To Protect Trees
By Lisa Johnson, Horticulture Outreach Specialist, Extension Dane County; Johnson.Lisa@danecounty.gov
‘Winter burn’ refers to a type of damage to evergreen foliage that typically occurs over winter. Common symptoms are browning and dying from the tips of the foliage inward. Several factors cause winter burn on evergreens, including winter ‘thaws’ while the ground is frozen, dry soil in autumn, a long period of very cold temperatures, winter sun on evergreen foliage or drying winter winds, poor siting of susceptible plants, recent planting/transplanting and the individual plant’s susceptibility. Frequently affected plants include yews, junipers, boxwood, arborvitae, rhododendrons, dwarf Alberta spruce and hemlock. Continue reading “Keep Watering In Fall To Protect Trees”
DNR Deer And Geese Damage Abatement And Control Grants Now Open
Urban Wildlife Damage Abatement and Control grants help urban areas develop wildlife plans, implement specific damage abatement and/or control measures for white-tailed deer and/or Canada geese. They are available to any town, city, village, county or tribal government in an urban area. This grant provides a 50% cost share up to $5,000 for eligible costs. The application deadline is Dec. 1, 2024. Continue reading “DNR Deer And Geese Damage Abatement And Control Grants Now Open”
Improving Employee Well-being With Exposure To Trees And Nature
By Olivia Witthun, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator; Olivia.Witthun@wisconsin.gov or 414-750-8744
Employee attitudes and well-being improve with exposure to nature. Think about it. Every weekday we commute to work, only to be met by a dark cubicle in shades of beige and grey. Ever wonder why your mood starts to match the walls? It’s because the workplace environment contributes to employee health. We’ve known this to be true (anecdotally) for a long time, but mounting scientific evidence proves our urban and community forests have beneficial effects on employee performance. Continue reading “Improving Employee Well-being With Exposure To Trees And Nature”
DNR Announces Recipients Of Wisconsin Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grants
By Nicolle R. Spafford, DNR Urban Forestry Grants Manager; Nicolle.Spafford@wisconsin.gov or 715-896-7099
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) announced the recipients of the Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grants to assist with damage sustained during statewide extreme storm events that took place June 21-25, 2024. Continue reading “DNR Announces Recipients Of Wisconsin Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grants”
Sampling Trees On Milwaukee Public School Campuses
By Dan Buckler, DNR Urban Forest Assessment Specialist; Daniel.Buckler@wisconsin.gov or 608-445-4578
The trees on school properties mirror those of the surrounding urban forest in composition but not in coverage.
That is one initial takeaway from an i-Tree Eco project on Milwaukee Public School (MPS) properties conducted by Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) Urban Forestry interns Priscilla Loh and Taylor Colman this summer. Continue reading “Sampling Trees On Milwaukee Public School Campuses”
Upcoming Trainings
*These training opportunities are provided as an information service only and does not constitute an endorsement from the WI DNR.
See below for information on arborist safety, tree biology and US Forest Service recorded webinars. Continue reading “Upcoming Trainings”
Take In Wisconsin’s Beautiful Bounty Of Fall Colors
Fall colors set a trail at Sheboygan’s Kohler-Andrae State Park ablaze in 2021. / Photo Credit: Bill McNee, Wisconsin DNR
By Art Kabelowsky, DNR Forest Health Outreach and Communications,
Fitchburg; Arthur.Kabelowsky@wisconsin.gov, 608-335-0167
Once again, it’s time for nature’s majestic paintbrush to spread its magic across Wisconsin.
Many of the state’s trees have begun to show off their amazing fall colors, brightening the view for state residents and visitors everywhere – from the restful resplendence of our urban areas and state properties to the drive-by dazzlement of our tree-lined country roads.
“It’s a brilliant and colorful display,” said Scott Lyon, leader of the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources Forest Products team. “The Badger State is home to many deciduous hardwood species which change colors and lose their leaves as the seasons change, including maple, oaks, hickories and aspen.”
Continue reading “Take In Wisconsin’s Beautiful Bounty Of Fall Colors”
Fall Means Hunting — For Spongy Moth Egg Masses
Each egg mass laid by a spongy moth carries 300 or more eggs. Caterpillars will emerge in spring. Egg masses can be removed with care during fall and winter months to prevent the emergence of caterpillars. Photo Credit: / Wisconsin DNR
By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist, Oshkosh;
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov or 920-360-0942
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is encouraging property owners to seek out and dispose of spongy moth egg masses, which were produced by adult moths during the summer.
Each spongy moth egg mass contains hundreds of eggs that will hatch into hungry, leaf-eating caterpillars in the coming spring. Large numbers of these invasive caterpillars can be a tremendous nuisance that may cause tree mortality.
Continue reading “Fall Means Hunting — For Spongy Moth Egg Masses”