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Fall is the best time to plant trees... The cool temperatures and ample rain make fall the best time to plant trees. Trees appear dormant during fall and winter; however, they are putting down new roots to help them get established in their new homes. The new roots absorb water and nutrients that prepare the tree for new growth in the spring. So take advantage of the soft soil and plentiful rain and plant a tree this fall, and don't forget to start watering again when temperatures rise in the spring and soils dry out - typically around May or June. Learn more about giving your new tree a good start. In the News When did trees become disposable?, December 11, 2008 Seattle PI, Jeanne McGrady City trees: Halt careless devastation, December 12,2008 Seattle PI Opinion Editorial Features
Check out a 3-minute video about the work of the Green Seattle Partnership, a partnership between the City of Seattle, the Cascade Land Conservancy, and the community to restore 2500 acres of forested parkland by 2025. The Trees - Student Cham Ba wrote and performed this powerful piece about what he sees in trees. Douglas Fir - Michele, a neighbor of Ingraham High School, wrote this poem inspired by a beautiful tree.
Have a Question about Trees: Ask our experts
Q: I have a terraced backyard on a very steep slope The slope is covered in English ivy and blackberry. I'd like to take them out and replace them with native or less invasive species, but I'm concerned about destabilizing the soil. Can you give some advice about timing and the rate of replacement? I'd like to plant some trees, too. Which trees have roots that will stabilize soil and grow well on slopes? I would like them to be tall enough to provide some privacy as well. A: Removing ivy and blackberry from your yard is a great idea. When removing the ivy and blackberry it is important to remove as much of the root system as possible; for ivy it’s the running roots and for blackberry it’s the large subterranean root balls. This will minimize the amount of plants that will re-sprout. The best time of the year for invasive removal and planting is right now. The soil is soft and the roots are easier to remove. This is the best time to plant as the dormant plants have a chance to get established before our long dry summers. A mixture of trees and shrubs work best for slope stabilization. Their roots stabilize the soil at different depths. Here is more information on trees for slope stabilization. The Green Seattle Partnership does forest restoration in Seattle parklands throughout the city. They have many sites that deal with invasive removal on steep slopes. They are a great source and variety of hands-on innovative ideas for slope restoration.
Tree Blog
The blog is taking a hiatus, but you can read the archived entries here. Urban Forest Management Plan
Seattle’s Urban Forest Management Plan (UFMP) (5 MB*) is our first ever comprehensive plan for the urban forest. Our vision is to create a thriving and sustainable mix of tree species and ages that creates a contiguous and healthy ecosystem that is valued and cared for by the City and all of its citizens as an essential environmental, economic, and community asset. The UFMP is a 30-year plan which establishes a goal of 30% tree canopy cover and is intended to guide a broad range of short-, mid- and long-term actions that will achieve the vision and this goal. Short-term actions to be implemented within the next 5 years include:
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