Registration Eligibility
PA-DE ASLA Members and Nonmembers and Student Members and Nonmembers
Start Date
04/20/2023
End Date
04/22/2023
Description
A third-grader can tell you that trees need water, sunlight, CO2, nutrients, and minerals. That probably is enough for a tree in the forest, but not enough for urban trees. What are missing for urban trees? Partners, above- and underground. Almost all species we use in urban environment evolved over millions of years in forests with their friends and family. None of them, including those cultivated, evolved in forests of concrete and asphalt. The difference is obvious. In the forests, young trees get shades from mature trees to protect them from the scotching sun. The leaf shade from mature trees protect the young trees over the winter and leaf litter also makes great compost. These are the above-ground partners. Equally important are the underground partners in root and soil microbiome. It is critical for the survival and thrival of the baby trees. In the natural forest, it is easily passed on from the mother trees to the offsprings.
How do we build the modern urban environment? We clear cut all the trees and sell for lumber, strip off the top soil, compact the soil with heavy machinery, pour concrete and asphalt on top of it before planting some baby trees in the tree pits dug into the compacted soils. After that, we spray tons of herbicide and pesticides on the soil. Many trees have their rootballs dipped into insecticide bath when crossing state borders. We apply truck loads of deicing salt on roads during wintry weather conditions. After all the above process, how many of the beneficial microorganisms are still there? Even if we get a few survivors, is there any food (organic matter), oxygen, and moisture for them to survive and thrive? In this talk, we will review the partners urban trees are missing and how we can bring them back.
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Distance Learning
No
Course Equivalency
Yes
Subjects
Horticulture / Plants
Health, Safety and Welfare
Yes
Hours
1.0
Learning Outcomes
1. Learn the importance of urban forests to the health of human beings.
2. Learn what is missing in the urban environment and why we are struggling growing trees.
3. Learn why soil biodiversity is the key to a healthy tree.
4. Learn how to bring the partners back for the urban trees to survive and thrive.
Instructors
Wei Zhang, Ph.D.L. Dean Alberty
Course Codes
Provider
Pennsylvania/ Delaware Chapter ASLA