Greening Your
Community
An Old-Fashioned, New Recipe for
Community Tree Survival
Ohio DNR
Urban Forestry Assistance Program
Since 1979
Goal
 Provide tools for Ohio communities to
develop & manage comprehensive tree care
programs
How We Help
Organizational
Assistance
Technical
Assistance
Best Practices
Information
Grants
…Improve the
Quality of Life
of
Ohio’s Citizens
Humans Evolved
With Trees
We’re Programmed to Live
Together
Humans Need Trees
 Oxygen & Clean Water

value of U.S. urban forests ≈ $4 billion/year
 Food
 Shelter
 Protection
 Comfort
 Ecosystem Services
American Forests
Canopy Coverage Goals
 Average tree cover = 40%



Suburban residential zones 50%
Urban residential zones 25%
Central business districts 15%
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
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
Humans Shape
Tree Habitat
Pre European
Settlement
Sustainable
Remnant Civilization
99% Forested
Westward Ho!
Dayton
Pre WWII
More Cars
Post WWII-1972
Interstate System
Aged Urban Area
2000-2008
Housing Boom
Edge Cities
Mini Mall Era
Today
Today’s Urban
Environment = Unnatural
Respiration
CO2
Transpiration
O2
Photosynthesis
C6H12O6
Photosynthesis
C6H12O6
H2O & Nutrients
Sugar
Storage
Tree Requirements
 Water
Good Soil
 Air
 Space
 Soil
% By Volume
Water
25%
Soil
Particles
45%
Air
25%
Organic
Matter
5%
“O” layer
“A” layer
“B” layer
Top
soil
Sub
soil
Parent Material
“C” layer
Only difference between top soil & subsoil
is organic material & time
Established Trees
Soil Compaction
New Tree Plantings
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
Other Losses
 Monetary value
 Investment
 Ecosystem services
 Property values
 Socio-economic benefits
 Species/Age diversity
 Program support
 Credibility
Soil Damage
1997 Soil/Tree Survey
1. Trees growing on streets developed
Before World War II growing well
After World War II doing poorly
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
What Happened?
Construction Soil Damage
 Topsoil/O-A-B horizons removed & mixed
 The structure of the soil is destroyed
 Soil is compacted
Good Soil
Urbanized Soil
Water
10%
Water
25%
Air
25%
Soil
Particles
45%
Organic
Matter
5%
Air
10%
Organic
Matter
0%
Soil
Particles
80%
Changes in Soil
Characteristics
 Physical
 Texture
 Structure
 Bulk Density
 Chemical
 pH
 Cation Exchange Capacity
 Nutrients
 Biological
 Organic Matter
 Soil Life
Urbanized
Old
Top
soil
“O” layer
“A” Layer
“B” Layer
“C” layer
Sub
soil
Parent material
Can We Remedy This?
O
A
Ap
B
Re-create O Layer
“O” layer
“A” Layer
“B” Layer
Sub
soil
“C” layer
Parent material
The only difference between topsoil &
subsoil is organic material & time.
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
Criteria
1. Cheap
2. Accessible Materials
3. Common Equipment/Tools
4. Easy
The Recipe
New Soil in 3 Easy Steps
by
Alan Siewert
The Recipe
1. Rip subsoil to a depth of 24 inches
Reintroduces Air into Soil
“O” layer
“A” Layer
“B” Layer
“C” layer
Parent material
Urbanized Soil
Native site
The Recipe
1. Rip subsoil to a depth of 24 inches
2. Incorporate 1-2 inches of compost to upper
10 inches of subsoil
Soil Formation
“O” layer
“A” Layer
“B” Layer
New A
“C” layer
Parent material
Urbanized Soil
Native site
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
Soil Formation
“O” layer
“A” Layer
“B” Layer
O
New A
New
New
B
Over time
“C” layer
Parent material
Urbanized Soil
Native site
2002
2004
Recipe Applications
 Single tree site preparation
 Large scale soil restoration



Street reconstruction projects
Neighborhoods
Construction sites
 Existing trees
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
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
2 Years Later
Fashionable!
Part of the Recipe’s
Better Than No Recipe
An Experiment
Condition
100
95
Percent Condition
90
85
80
75
70
Control
65
Mulch
60
Mulch & Comp
55
Mulch & Fert
50
1998
1999
2000
Year
2001
Diameter
5
4.8
Diameter in Inches
4.6
4.4
4.2
4
3.8
Contorl
3.6
Mulch
3.4
Mulch & comp
3.2
Mulch & Fert
3
1998
1999
2000
Years
2001
Dollar Value
$350.00
$300.00
Value
$250.00
$200.00
$150.00
Control
$100.00
Mulch
Mulch & Comp
$50.00
Mulch & Fert
$1998
1999
2000
Year
2001
Results
Gross Change
Treatment
in Value
Control
Mulch
Mulch &
Compost
Mulch &
Fertilizer
Treatment Net Change in Increase Net Value
Cost
Value + Cost
Over Control
56.72
135.84
119.35
0.00
29.28
39.48
56.72
106.56
79.87
0.00
49.84
23.15
120.70
29.73
90.97
34.25
What Do You Want?
What Do You Want?
What Do You Want?
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
Thank You!
Questions?
Steph Miller
Ohio Division of Forestry