1. Greening Your Community An Old-Fashioned, New Recipe for Community Tree Survival

2. Ohio DNR Urban Forestry Assistance Program Since 1979

3. Goal Provide tools for Ohio communities to develop & manage comprehensive tree care programs

4. How We Help Organizational Assistance Technical Assistance Grants Best Practices Information

5. …Improve the Quality of Life of Ohio’s Citizens

6. Humans Evolved With Trees We’re Programmed to Live Together

8. Humans Need Trees Oxygen & Clean Water value of U.S. urban forests ≈ $4 billion/year Food Shelter Protection Comfort Ecosystem Services

9. American Forests Canopy Coverage Goals Average tree cover = 40% Suburban residential zones 50% Urban residential zones 25% Central business districts 15%

10. Investing in Trees is Good for Business! Large-stature trees deliver big savings benefits we can’t ignore Trees are the only piece of urban infrastructure that appreciates in value

11. Investing in Trees is Good for Business! Average tree care cost/year ≈ $13 Large tree returns/year ≈ $65 ($80-120) Energy savings Cleaner air Stormwater Management Extended street life Higher property values Police/judicial system savings uncalculated Small tree returns/year ≈ $15

12. Humans Shape Tree Habitat

13. Pre European Settlement Sustainable

14. Remnant Civilization

15. 99% Forested

16. Westward Ho!

18. Dayton Pre WWII More Cars Post WWII-1972 Interstate System Aged Urban Area 2000-2008 Housing Boom Edge Cities Mini Mall Era

19. Today

20. Today’s Urban Environment = Unnatural

21. Transpiration O 2 H 2 O & Nutrients Photosynthesis C 6 H 12 O 6 Photosynthesis C 6 H 12 O 6 Respiration CO 2 Sugar Storage

22. Tree Requirements Water Air Space Soil Good Soil % By Volume

23. “O” layer “A” layer “B” layer “C” layer Parent Material Top soil Only difference between top soil & subsoil is organic material & time Sub soil

24. Established Trees

28. Soil Compaction

31. New Tree Plantings

32. We Expect Trees to Fit in Our Space ½ between sidewalk & curb Every 40 ft Not over gas or water meters 10 ft from driveway aprons

36. Other Losses Monetary value Investment Ecosystem services Property values Socio-economic benefits Species/Age diversity Program support Credibility

37. Soil Damage

38. 1997 Soil/Tree Survey 1. Trees growing on streets developed Before World War II growing well After World War II doing poorly

39. 1997 Soil/Tree Survey 2. Soils on streets developed Before World War II have clearly defined A-B-C soil horizons After World War II have an A-C soil horizon with a clear separation of topsoil & subsoil

40. What Happened?

44. Construction Soil Damage Topsoil/O-A-B horizons removed & mixed The structure of the soil is destroyed Soil is compacted

45. Good SoilUrbanized Soil

46. Changes in Soil Characteristics Physical Texture Structure Bulk Density Chemical pH Cation Exchange Capacity Nutrients Biological Organic Matter Soil Life

48. “O” layer “A” Layer “B” Layer “C” layer Parent material Top soil Sub soil UrbanizedOld

49. Can We Remedy This?

50. O A Ap B

51. “O” layer “A” Layer “B” Layer “C” layer Parent material The only difference between topsoil & subsoil is organic material & time. Sub soil Re-create O Layer

52. Activities of Organic Material & Mulch 1. Reduces soil compaction 2. Decomposed organic material binds soil particles together to form structure 3. Feeds soil food chain

53. Criteria 1. Cheap 2. Accessible Materials 3. Common Equipment/Tools 4. Easy

54. The Recipe New Soil in 3 Easy Steps by Alan Siewert

55. The Recipe 1. Rip subsoil to a depth of 24 inches

56. “O” layer “A” Layer “B” Layer “C” layer Parent material Urbanized SoilNative site Reintroduces Air into Soil

57. The Recipe 1. Rip subsoil to a depth of 24 inches 2. Incorporate 1-2 inches of compost to upper 10 inches of subsoil

58. “O” layer “A” Layer “B” Layer “C” layer Parent material Urbanized SoilNative site New A Soil Formation

59. The Recipe 1. Rip subsoil to a depth of 24 inches. 2. Incorporate 1 to 2 inches of compost to upper 10 inches of subsoil 3. Top-dress with 1 inch of compost

60. “O” layer “A” Layer “B” Layer “C” layer Parent material Urbanized SoilNative site New A New O New B Over time Soil Formation

61. 2002

62. 2004

63. Recipe Applications Single tree site preparation Large scale soil restoration Street reconstruction projects Neighborhoods Construction sites Existing trees

64. The Recipe: Site Prep 1. Rip subsoil to a depth of 24 inches Backhoe 2. Incorporate 1-2 inches of compost to upper 10 inches of subsoil Tiller 3. Top-dress with 1 inch of compost Rake

67. The Recipe: Existing Trees 1. Rip subsoil to a depth of 24 inches Air tool 2. Incorporate 2 inches of compost to upper 10 inches of subsoil Air tool 3. Top-dress with 1 inch of compost Rake

68. 2 Years Later

69. Fashionable!

70. Part of the Recipe’s Better Than No Recipe An Experiment

81. Results

82. What Do You Want?

85. Special Thanks Ohio Urban Foresters Alan Siewert Wendi Van Buren Ann Bonner Drew Todd Tree Commission Academy Klyn Nursery Sevin Hills, Ohio Silver Lake, Ohio Napoleon, Ohio

86. Thank You! Questions? Steph Miller Ohio Division of Forestry