Re-Green Tulsa - Replacing trees lost by ice

[sgrizzle]

http://www.journalrecord.com/article.cfm?recid=85805

quote:
A greener Tulsa will return, mayor says
January 31, 2008
TULSA – On a windy Wednesday afternoon outside Tulsa's oldest home, Mayor Kathy Taylor said Tulsa will become Green Country again.
Taylor announced "ReGreen Tulsa – 20,000 by 2010," a plan to replace all of the trees that were lost due to the December storm. She said an estimated 20,000 trees were lost.
"We must repair that damage," she said. "We have been known as a Tree City and we must continue that important Tulsa heritage."
The Tree Advisory Committee and Up with Trees Inc. are partnering with the city for the plan.
The plan will require $4 million in private contributions over the next three years. A group of citizens has raised a $1.5 million challenge grant.
American Electric Power – Public Service Company of Oklahoma will provide $150,000 over the life of the program.
City Councilor Cason Carter (District 9), chairman of the Tree Advisory Committee, said prior to the ice storm they had been working on a long-term strategic plan for the city's trees. When tree limbs started falling, Taylor came to the committee to start the plan immediately.
"With the great work of the Tree Advisory Committee, we have much of this plan in place, including identifying the trees which are the most likely to survive such a storm, not cause issues for our power lines and also help our environment," said Carter.
Each ReGreen Tulsa tree will cost approximately $300.
Anna America, executive director for Up with Trees, said the plan would place trees in public areas and private properties.
"We really think to have an impact on urban canopy we've got to be moving into the private properties," she said.
The city encourages community support through donations or planting a tree themselves. Residents can also apply to have their neighborhood considered for the NeighborWoods program. This program will provide education and trees for areas hit hardest by the storm.
Taylor, Carter and America planted the first ReGreen tree in Owen Park at 560 N. Maybelle St. after the announcement Wednesday.
America said although the ice storm was tragic, there is a silver lining.
"It really helped us focus on how much we cherished trees in Tulsa," she said. "What we're doing is having a very real visible impact on how beautiful, how livable and how healthy this city is for decades to come."
For more information, call Up with Trees at (918) 610-8733.

[booWorld]

Has this list been modified since the recent ice damage?

[RecycleMichael]

Yes. That is a new list.

[booWorld]

Compare the City list to this article from the Tulsa World.  There seem to be conflicts on which species can weather ice storms.

I think ice and wind storms ought to be factored into the City's list, but perhaps they have been already.

[RecycleMichael]

I think there is no complete consensus on any topic...making a list of best trees is like making a list of best restaurants.

I have a third list of trees that I picked up at last weekend's Home and Garden show.

I know a little about trees and have some people close to me involved in the tree planting business. Maybe I (and the tree-mendous posters of TulsaNow) can be of assistance.

What trees are you looking at? Where are you going to plant? What are your goals for this tree?

Give us the Tree-via and we will comment.

[booWorld]

Actually, I've seen other lists also.  In addition, I've made my own observations of which species did the best and worse in my neighborhood.

I was wondering how current the City's list was.  Thanks for your reply.  A footnote on the City web page stating that the list has been updated since last month's ice storm would be helpful IMO.  The lacebark elm on the City's list is what made me question it.

Again, thanks.

[RecycleMichael]

Good catch. I would not include the Lacebark Elm on a list of trees that are likely to survive ice storms.

It grows well here and does it in terrible soil. I used to have one in my old house and loved the summer/fall color change from green to yellow to purple.

[EricP]

We are thinking about replacing our felled bradford pear with a Dogwood, Redbud, or maybe a tough non-flowering tree. I noticed the list on the city of tulsa's site lists Eastern Redbud and Texas Redbud as recommended but not Oklahoma Redbud. What the hell?

[RecycleMichael]

Oklahoma Red bud is really just the same as an Eastern Red Bud. This is also true for what people call an Arkansas Red Bud.

Yes, some nurseries graft and play around and make different varieties of trees, but they are really much the same.

The differences between the Eastern Red Bud and the Texas Red Bud is the color of the blooms in spring. The Eastern RedBud is the ones with the deep red and purple looking buds and the The Texas ones have a more pinkish look.

[PonderInc]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

Good catch. I would not include the Lacebark Elm on a list of trees that are likely to survive ice storms.

I second that emotion.  Just had my lacebark elm tree cut down.  It was only about 20 years old (young and healthy), but the only limbs that didn't break off during the storm were the one that rested on my roof, and the one that rested on the picnic table.  All the others gave up the fight. It looked like a teepee after the storm...with all its branches cracked and hanging down from the trunk.  

Looking for another tree to replace it.  I have heard that the only pine tree recommended for Tulsa is the loblolly pine (aka: "slash").  I'd like to hear more about this tree.  If you have one, do you like it?  Is it healthy?  Is it suseptible to that pine beetle that's ravishing pine forests all over the country?

[RecycleMichael]

Loblolly pines are great for this area. I pass out thousands of Loblolly seedlings every year.

The pines on the Broken Arrow expressway by Peoria are all Loblollys.

They are very fast growing with thick branches. The cones are somewhat pointed. The way I tell if a pine is a Loblolly or not is to look at the needles. Loblolly needles come in a three pack are are fairly stiff.

[EricP]

Do you know of any place I could look for a completely comprehensive list of good trees for northeast oklahoma with their strengths/weaknesses, pictures, etc?

I have found plenty of text by itself, pictures but no text, both but an incomplete list.... but they are all always missing something.

[Steve]

What really bothers me about this tree situation is that the residents of my neighborhood don't seem to care at all about their trees; they didn't properly maintain the trees before the ice storm, and they have shown little concern about maintaining them since.  They seem to view trees as self-maintaining objects with no care or expense necessary on their part.

I suspect most damaged trees in my neighborhood will just be left to die from damage, disease, and owner neglect.  And then the dead trees will become safety hazards until someone is killed or suffers major property damage due to the tree owner's neglect.  Sad.

[circassia]

I was sad to see so many old oak trees in the Lortondale area being cut down. They had a bad ice storm in Enid about five years ago and my buddy's oak tree is finally coming back.

I personally didn't lose any trees. I just bought my home(west sider here!). I think everyone in my neighborhood is allergic to planting decent trees. Everyone has a silver maple, which are basically crap trees.

I'll be planting about four trees this summer as  money permits. I want a shumard oak in the front. I would love a caddo sugar maple if I can find one. I may end up planting a loblolly pine in the back as well.

I'm happy to see this iniative, but the cost for someone like me is too prohibitive. If I remember correctly, the donation is up around $300.00 per tree. That's just too steep for someone in my income bracket.

I hope someone like Kaiser donates a little money to help with the "re-greening" of Tulsa. His foundation has provided money for the beautifying of Tulsa, and this would be a great way to contribute.

[Steve]

quote:Originally posted by circassia

I was sad to see so many old oak trees in the Lortondale area being cut down. They had a bad ice storm in Enid about five years ago and my buddy's oak tree is finally coming back.

I only have one ash tree and one large juniper on my property in Lortondale; I had a redbud, mullbery, mimosa, and an ash all removed years ago.  All the recent damage to my house and property was caused by neglected neighbors' trees.  There are two giant oaks on both sides of the front of my house that will probably soon decay and die due to owner neglect.  They have not (or minimally) cleaned up the debris from the ground in their yards, so I have no reason to think they will properly care for the trees. Heck, the city is providing free limb pick-up and yet many of my fellow residents have yet to clean their lots and pile up debris.  I guess I just live around a bunch of slobs, but I have known about that for years, so recent developments are not surprising to me.  And I wonder why home prices in my neighborhood aren't higher...