How Tree Roots Work Part I | How Tree Roots Work Part III: Mycorrhizae
Image Courtesy of the International Society of Arboriculture.
Severing roots along one side of the stem often leads to the tree falling the other direction. …
On the first Friday of most months, members of the Urban Forestry team of Austin’s Parks and Recreation Department (PARD) can be found in a maintenance lot off Stratford Drive*. Mopac looms to the east. Ready with chainsaws and log lifters, they offer the public a unique free resource: Austin-grown wood. PARD oversees the management of over 288,000 trees on Austin parklands. Keeping those public spaces safe is the first priority for their Urban Forestry team, es…
Oak wilt is one of the most destructive tree diseases in the United States, and it is killing oak trees in central Texas at epidemic proportions. Whether you're new to Austin or just getting to know your trees it's important to know the basics, and to know when to call in the professionals to protect your trees.
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Margret Hofmann was born in Germany in 1925. Growing up during the rise of Hitler and the Second World War, she witnessed the destruction of lives and places she loved. The experience left her committed to fighting for the things she cared for most. “The burden is that you feel you have to fight apathy… I have an increased sense of appreciation to have food, to sleep at night.”
Margret immigrated to the United States in 1946, eventually settling with her hus…
Alert! Tree emergency!
You may have seen our recent post where we warned you about an invasive insect, Emerald Ash Borer (EAB). This pest could kill all our ash trees within a few years, so we need to prepare now! In the earlier post, we encouraged you to help us find Ash trees and m…
Written by Evelyn; October 1, 2020
Sometimes all one needs is some food for the soul. For me, spending time in nature solves that. Bike riding, hiking, or even sitting in my backyard on the trampoline as the sun sets. I am currently in a part of my life where a lot of things are changing. New doors are opening and I’m growing more curi…
Written by Antonia; August 20, 2020
Live Oak
As the date for my departure to Philadelphia grew closer, I decided to visit a place I hadn’t been to in a long time. In Austin, there’s a lovely park behind this popular grocery store in my area. As a child, I hosted and attended many birthday parties there, as well as play dates with friends. I spent countless hours…
Written by Antonia; October 23, 2020
One of the most exciting aspects of leaving for college, for me, was the fact that I would have so many new areas to explore. So, of course, I used the free time I had to look around campus and find all of the hidden, interesting places, both indoors and outdoors. Luckily, I made a friend who was also rather adventurous and we’d plan days to go out and see if we could find something new. From a strange, deserted bas…
Written by Antonia; August 26, 2020
For the last tree I would be filming in Austin, I decided to film the Ashe Juniper tree in my backyard. I’ve always loved Junipers, although I’m not entirely sure why, and it’s always been my favorite tree near my house. I’ve always wa…
Written by Pearl Morosky, 2020 Youth Forest Council Member
All the trees in Austin need care and attention to grow and flourish, but with 33 million trees in the city, it takes a community to give every tree the care it needs. To help solve this problem, different community groups, many of whom rely heavily on volunteers, have stepped up to care for Austin’s trees. One of the largest groups is the Austin Parks Foundation (APF). This local Austin nonprofit provides resources, programming, and funding for our parks, with support from the City.
The City of Austin's Ur…