American Forests, a non-profit conservation organization, recently recognized 10 cities that stand out among the rest for making prolonged investments in the health of their urban forests and for taking an active role in improving the city's environmental resources.  Milwaukee was among the top named cities, highlighting the fact that its urban forest helps remove 496 tons of pollution each year. 

With more than 2 million trees, Milwaukee boasts plenty of green spaces and street trees that are not only aesthetically pleasing to residents and visitors but also help to provide energy savings of $864,000 annually.  The city also takes a proactive approach to protecting open spaces, renewing natural resources, implementing urban forest initiatives and providing training for green jobs. 

The top 10 cities were chosen based on urban forest maintenance, strategy, accessibility, health, documented knowledge and activities.  
 

Milwaukee is proud to be one of top cities in the country in terms of urban forestry and green initiatives and is looking forward to maintaining the high level of tree care and maintenance visitors and residents have come to expect. 

Featured Tree: White Oak

There's no better way to celebrate America's birthday month than by featuring the country's national tree, the mighty oak (or in our case, the white oak.)  A symbol of America, the impressive white oak stands tall at 50 to 80 feet in height and will spread its leafy foliage just as wide at full maturity. 

Not only is the tree admired for its stature and stability, the white oak also produces strong and durable timber that is primarily used for barrels, lumber, flooring and woodwork. Serving as a food source to many, the tree produces acorns which are eaten by squirrels, deer and quail, among others, to help them survive the winter.

Another reason to love the white oak is its purple-red dense fall foliage that adds an appealing visual element to any landscape.  A majestic tree all year long, the oak offers superior shade throughout the hot summer months.
 

The white oak prefers coarse, deep, moist, well-drained soil with a slightly acidic quality, but is also highly adaptable and can be found in several soil types across the eastern half of the country.

Tree Quote

To exist as a nation, to prosper as a state, and to live as a people, we must have trees. 

- Theodore Roosevelt

Wet Weather Causes Spread in Leaf and Needle Diseases

Summer Storms Take Their Toll on Wisconsin Trees

Now that we are well into Wisconsin's thunderstorm season, branches and trees are at high risk for storm damage, especially for trees that have been poorly pruned or previously weakened.  Whipping winds and pounding rain can send weak limbs and trees crashing to the ground in a matter of seconds. Not to mention, entire trees are often uprooted due to soft ground caused by excessive rainfall, restricted root areas and weakened or unsupportive root structures. 

While storm cleanup is the first thing on everyone's mind after the skies have cleared, it is important for property owners to be aware of the dangers of removing damaged or fallen trees.  If done incorrectly, a hazardous tree situation can result in injury or even death.

At First Choice, we recommend taking a proactive approach to tree health and maintenance to prepare trees for the changing season and avoid potentially harmful situations.

Our easy tips include:

• Inspect trees and branches, including the roots, for damage or decay. Call us to offer an expert opinion on the safety of questionable trees and to remove trees with signs of severe damage or decay
• Keep all trees properly trimmed. Prune dead or diseased branches. Space branches (thin the tree) to promote proper branch growth, increase the flow of air through the tree, and reduce wind resistance and the forces that often lead to severe damage
• Protect the tree's root system with a wide ring of mulch around the base of the tree
• Watch for cavities in the tree as these are signs of weak spots in the tree
• Call us to install bolts and/or cables or newer generation support systems to strengthen weaker trees

In the unfortunate event that you find yourself with downed trees from a severe storm, it is important to evaluate the situation completely before beginning the cleanup process.

Below are our tips for a safe and effective cleanup:

• Approach damaged trees with extreme caution
• Stay clear of downed power lines and wires.  If the tree has hit a power line, call the electric company right away and report the incident.  A Certified Arborist from First Choice Tree Care will be able to help clear fallen debris once the electrical hazard is cleared. Do not attempt to clean up the damage on your own
• If a large tree or branch is hanging or under tension, seek professional help
• If the damage is not extensive, prune small broken branches, repair the torn bark and let the tree begin to recover
• If the tree has already been weakened by disease, has a severely split trunk or has lost more than 50 percent of its crown, it should be removed.  Call us to help as damaged and weakened trees can be difficult and dangerous to remove 

 EAB: The Choice is Yours

As discussed in previous newsletters, the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) is back again this year, increasing the threat to the state's nearly 770 million ash trees.  Ash trees make up nearly seven percent of Wisconsin's forests and 20 percent of urban trees, all of which this small, invasive, wood boring beetle has the potential to wipe out completely.

In the first few years of a known EAB infestation, damage to trees is relatively unnoticeable, lulling property owners into a false sense of security.  However, with each passing year, the insect population continues to multiply causing the mortality rate of trees to skyrocket, reaching nearly 100 percent within six to twelve years of infection.

With 27 counties already under quarantine, First Choice Tree Care is offering a treatment plan that is 100 percent guaranteed to prevent EAB infestations in the future and treat existing infestations.

It is up to you whether or not you want to treat your tree. But please be advised, choosing to do nothing is making a choice to lose your tree.  If left untreated, the emerald ash borer WILL kill your tree.  With EAB, it's not a matter of "if", but "when."  Our message to you is clear: treat your tree for EAB or expect to lose it within a matter of a few years.