By Elton Rogers, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator
Elton.Rogers@wisconsin.gov or 414-294-8675
To best answer the titular question, I like to start by flipping the question on its head: When is the worst time to prune trees?
To answer this reworded question, we first need to acknowledge that “pruning is wounding.” Anytime you cut off a living portion of a tree, you are doing two main things:
A stack of discarded Christmas trees awaits processing at a drop-off facility. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Wisconsin DNR
Invasive plants and insects don’t mind playing the long game. After all, they’re just trying to survive and thrive, like the rest of us.
They’ll hang out as part of your holiday decorations throughout the season, just on the chance humans might dispose of them improperly, giving them an opportunity to find a new home in your yard or neighborhood.
Continue reading “Be Mindful Of Invasives During Holiday Clean-Up”
By Nicolle Spafford, DNR Urban Forestry Grant Manager
Nicolle.Spafford@wisconsin.gov or 715-896-7099
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced Urban Forestry Grant Program recipients for the 2026 grant year. The program helps fund projects consistent with state and national goals for increasing the urban forest canopy.
The Urban Forestry Grant Program is distributing almost $550,000 in grant funds. A dollar-for-dollar match puts the total estimated cost of these projects over $1.2 million. In total, 38 applications were selected to receive funding, with awards ranging from $2,128 to $25,000. Continue reading “2026 Urban Forestry Grants Announced”
By Abby Krause, DNR Urban Forestry Coordinator
Abigail.Krause@wisconsin.gov or 608-556-5690
Trees are good. For those who hold trees in high esteem, this simple statement feels as much a universal truth as the sky being blue or the sun rising in the east. It can feel unfathomable that anyone might hold a contrasting opinion.
Luckily, if you are of the trees are good persuasion, there’s plenty of research out there to support your stance. Oxygen production, air pollutant removal, stormwater reduction and filtration, lower energy bills, increased property values, food sources, recreational opportunities, wildlife habitat and calming aesthetics are just a few oft-touted benefits provided by trees. Continue reading “Community Spotlight: Outreach Examples From Western Wisconsin”
By Nicolle Spafford, DNR Urban Forestry Grant Manager
Nicolle.Spafford@wisconsin.gov or 715-896-7099
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has announced the recipients of the Urban Forestry Catastrophic Storm Grants to assist with damage sustained during severe storms that took place Aug. 9, 2025. Catastrophic storm grants range from $4,000 to $50,000 and do not require a dollar-for-dollar match. Grant funding was distributed among the following three communities: Continue reading “DNR Announces Catastrophic Storm Grant Recipients”
By Travis Derks, City of Oshkosh Landscape Operations Manager
TDerks@oshkoshwi.gov or 920-236-5080.
Photo Credit: City of Oshkosh
When presented with an offer in October of donated trees to be planted by volunteers with just over a month to plan, the City of Oshkosh didn’t hesitate to take on the challenge. Cummins Inc. (in collaboration with the Arbor Day Foundation and Great Lakes St. Lawrence Governors and Premiers) was looking to plant around 40 trees with 30 volunteers somewhere in Oshkosh by the end of this year. Continue reading “Governor Tony Evers Digs Into Planting Trees With Volunteers In Oshkosh”
By Tom Jerow, Rhinelander City Forester
View of the same street before and after urban forestry efforts.
The City of Rhinelander, like many communities with populations under 10,000, has struggled to maintain a vibrant urban forestry program. Funding and staffing are its main challenges. The city also faces a variety of urban forestry issues, including pests and diseases, species diversity, community engagement, catastrophic ice storms and aging sewer and water infrastructure. The latter is one of the most significant challenges. Continue reading “Community Spotlight: Rhinelander — How One Small Community Is Making Urban Forestry A Priority”
Woodpecker flecking on the bark of a dying ash tree is visible at Winnebago County Community Park in Oshkosh. Flecking occurs when the birds peck away at the trees to feed on emerald ash borer larvae beneath the bark. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
By Bill McNee, DNR Forest Health Specialist
Bill.McNee@wisconsin.gov
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) encourages property owners to watch for woodpecker damage to their ash trees this winter.
Woodpecker damage, often called “flecking,” happens when birds peck away some of a tree’s bark to access the larvae underneath. Flecking is a common early sign that an ash tree might be infested with emerald ash borer (EAB), an invasive insect. EAB is the most damaging threat to Wisconsin trees, killing more than 99% of the untreated ash trees it infests.
By Wisconsin DNR
A worker plants a red pine seedling provided by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. / Photo Credit: Wisconsin DNR
The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering free tree seedlings to every fourth-grade student in Wisconsin as part of its annual Arbor Day tree planting program.
Wisconsin fourth-grade principals, teachers and homeschoolers can now place seedling orders and coordinate delivery by completing the 2026 Arbor Day application by March 16, 2026.
Continue reading “Arbor Day Seedling Orders Open To Fourth-graders”
The 2026 Urban Forestry Grant application deadline was Oct. 1, 2025, and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) received 71 applications, equaling over $1.1 million in funding requests. A total of $559,680 is available in grant funding for 2026.
Cities, villages, towns, counties, tribes and 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations in or conducting their project in Wisconsin are eligible to apply for an Urban Forestry Grant. The grants range from $1,000 to $25,000, and grant applicants must match each grant dollar for dollar. Grants are awarded to projects that align with state and national goals for increasing the urban forest canopy and the benefits it provides. Continue reading “DNR Urban Forestry Grant Update”
