TreesLouisville

Choosing the Right Trees for Urban Environments: A Step-By-Step Guide

Fri, 10 Nov 2023 18:40:26 GMT

A Step-By-Step Guide to Starting Your Own Urban Tree Planting Project, from Saplings to Shade

Looking to build your own shaded forest in your backyard? Want to learn which trees will give you the best bang for your buck in your neighborhood? Ready to give back to your community and help create a more sustainable urban environment? Look no further! We'll walk you through the different considerations and logistics to take into account when planning your own tree planting project.

STEP ONE: Where do you want to plant your trees?

When starting your journey into urban tree planting, one of the most important factors to take into consideration is where you will be planting your tree. Always remember: right tree, right place. If you place a tree in an ill-suited environment, it can drastically lower the tree's chances of survival, or even create hazards as the tree gets larger. Ask yourself: what is the soil like? How much direct sunlight does the area get each day? Is the ground often saturated with water, or does it stay very dry? Are there any buildings, overhead wires, or other structures that might interfere with the tree as it grows? Questions like these should be taken into account when planning your project. Check out LG&E's Right Tree, Right Place guide for some pointers! For guidance on specific trees and their preferred environmental conditions, browse through the Arbor Day Foundation's tree database .
Another very important factor to consider is whether or not you will need to apply for any permits before planting in your selected site. For trees planted in the public right-of-way (the strip between the sidewalk and the street), all residents are required to obtain a planting permit from Louisville Metro Urban Forestry . The easiest way to do this is to call 311 to submit a permit request.

STEP TWO: What features are you looking for in a tree?

After you've figured out your site conditions, it's time to think about what kind of features you'd like your tree to have.
Are you looking for a tree that will provide flowers in the spring, or produce edible fruit? Perhaps you'd like a large canopy tree that will offer lots of cooling shade, or one that will keep its leaves year-round to provide a privacy screen. You may even just want a tree that's super low-maintenance!
First, let's start with the difference between native, non-native, and invasive species.
Native: species that historically existed and adapted in its area
Non-native: species that have not historically existed in the area and have been introduced through human actions
Invasive: species that are non-native to the area and introduction will like cause harm and damage to the surrounding ecosystem.
Think about tree size: how large do you want your tree to be once it reaches maturity? Make note of any power lines or height obstructions, which will limit the size class of trees you should choose from.
Class A: large canopy trees that can reach between 50-100 feet tall at maturity
Class B: medium canopy trees that reach between 30-50 feet tall at maturity
Class C: small canopy/understory trees that typically do not grow larger than 25-30 feet when fully mature.

STEP THREE: Where do you buy your trees?

Local vs. "Big Box" store
"Big Box" stores like the Home Depot, Lowes, and Walmart often have trees for purchase, however most stores will have a small selection of species to choose from, and quality of plant material can vary greatly.
Shopping at a locally-owned nursery will provide you with a much greater variety of tree species to choose from, and also keeps more dollars in the local economy. Staff with horticultural knowledge are on-hand to help answer any questions you might have about tree selection, planting, and care.

Ready to plant? Make sure to check out our list of Recommended Trees for Kentucky!

A Day in the Life of TreesLouisville's GreenTeam

Thu, 03 Aug 2023 15:30:20 GMT

By Bear Miles, GreenTeam Field Technician

The GreenTeam is a recent addition to the TreesLouisville family , and we take a lot of pride in our responsibility for planting, pruning, watering, and maintaining trees at various project sites across Louisville. Each day is unique due to the diverse landscape of Louisville and the wide range of projects TreesLouisville develops.

Currently, our primary focus is site maintenance and watering , as the planting season has come to an end until November. When we visit previously planted projects, such as JCPS schools, we assess the trees to determine their specific care needs. Our team takes proactive measures, including re-staking damaged or leaning trees, installing trunk guards to protect against lawn equipment, pulling weeds, and removing dead trees. To keep the entire TreesLouisville team informed, we update the status of each individual tree through our GIS inventory and record the maintenance activities we've completed.

After finishing the initial inspection and maintenance, we move to the pruning phase of older sites. Pruning tasks vary depending on the tree's location (e.g., near the road or in a field) and its growth rate. Some trees require pruning to correct their structure or remove hazards, while others may need suckers removed to improve their aesthetics. With each site visit, we learn valuable lessons about best management practices that promote tree health and sustainability.

It's always disheartening to encounter a site that has been severely damaged by vandalism or lawn care equipment. Whatever the reason for this neglect - a lack of understanding, a disconnect from nature, or negative biases - each incident reinforces the importance of our role in educating and advocating for trees.

Despite these challenges, our experiences exploring the city have been overwhelmingly positive. We've had the pleasure of meeting so many new people from all walks of life because of where our routes take us. We have met other compassionate and nature-loving individuals; people who want to see their communities thrive and want to bring their neighbors together to foster a deeper understanding of the significance of our environment and strengthen community bonds.

We feel proud knowing the work we do will continue to benefit the health of Louisville and it's communities for years to come!

Trees at Schools: That's Cool

Mon, 26 Jun 2023 19:20:51 GMT

In just 5 years' time, we can already see the impact our trees have made in low-canopy areas, especially in once shade-less school yards! The video linked below was taken at Crums Lane Elementary where we installed 110 new trees during the 2017-2018 planting season. Currently the school's neighborhood has 23% canopy coverage.

Emily Evans, one of Crums Lane's 4th grade teachers (who also provided us with the video), told us,

"My students love these trees! There is one next to the playground that I sometimes climb and my students call it Ms. Evans' Tree."

She also added this about the particular day when the video was captured:

"The end of the school year is hard on these kids! Between the weather and state testing, we don't get to spend as much time outside. Being stuck inside isn't good for anyone, especially 10 year-olds who have been in school for 8 months at this point. These 4th graders were wrapping up their last Language Arts unit of the year over Poems, Prose, and Plays. It was time for the students to finish their creative writing pieces and a perfect day to be outside. It was amazing to see how focused they all were. Each student was able to relax and work under the shade of their own tree thanks to TreesLouisville. We would not be able to provide this kind of enrichment to our students without this invaluable gift!"

And she's not the only one to see the benefits trees can provide to students on school yards. A recent segment on NPR highlighted what we have been saying all along - schools need trees!

TreeFest 2023: That's A Wrap!

Tue, 02 May 2023 15:50:26 GMT

We were absolutely blown away by the number of community members who came out to celebrate trees at our second annual TreeFest at Joe Creason Park on April 15th!

TreeFest attendees had the opportunity to shop from over 6 different green vendors, meet and learn about local organizations, say hello to some furry and crawly friends, climb trees, listen to live music, enjoy local food and drinks, and most importantly, to contribute to our growing canopy by planting trees or taking home a free one!

Next year, we will be bringing TreeFest to a different corner of Louisville by hosting it at a new park! Stay tuned for a location announcement toward the end of this year. If you are an organization or vendor interested in participating in TreeFest 2024, please contact morgan@treeslouisville.org .

TreesLouisville is Hiring!

Fri, 03 Feb 2023 19:40:00 GMT

TreesLouisville is excited to announce we are currently hiring for TWO full time tree maintenance positions! Job responsibilities include pruning and watering young trees, tree planting, site evaluations, tree nursery management, data collection and more.

We are looking for individuals who are passionate about the environment, caring for trees, and enjoy working outdoors.

Visit the links below for the full job description, salary, and benefits.

Application period closes on Friday, February 13th.

Green Team Field Technician

Green Team Field Supervisor

The post TreesLouisville is Hiring! appeared first on TreesLouisville .

Listen to TreesLouisville talk trees on WFPL’s ‘In Conversation’

Mon, 07 Nov 2022 21:55:00 GMT

During Tree Week 2022, TreesLouisville had the pleasure of chatting with In Conversation’s host Rick Howlett, along with additional guests from Louisville Metro Urban Forestry and Limbwalker Tree Service, about the importance of trees in our urban environment.

Listen to the episode here

The post Listen to TreesLouisville talk trees on WFPL’s ‘In Conversation’ appeared first on TreesLouisville .

Countdown to Tree Week 2022

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 18:58:00 GMT

It’s nearly here – Tree Week 2022 begins on Saturday, October 8th! Join TreesLouisville and partners from all over the Louisville region to celebrate trees and the many ways they benefit our lives. Find free and low-cost activities for all ages, including tree planting and mulching events, kids crafts and story times, guided nature hikes, yoga in the park, and so much more!

To see a full calendar of Tree Week events, visit the Tree Week 2022 website .

This video was made possible with support from

The post Countdown to Tree Week 2022! appeared first on TreesLouisville .

Announcing Louisville’s First Annual Tree Week!

Fri, 22 Jul 2022 14:49:00 GMT

Building on the success of Louisville’s inaugural Tree Fest in April 2022, Tree Week is an effort to engage our community in celebrating and raising awareness of the value of our community forest. From October 8th-16th, join TreesLouisville and partners for a week of activities across Louisville Metro, including tree planting, mulching and pruning, tree tours/walks, outdoor activities like yoga, biking, scavenger hunts, hiking at local landmarks, and nature therapy/mindfulness walks. Tree-centric events like film showing, art and music, storytime and library events, K-12 programming, and guest speakers/webinars will also be included.

On October 8th, TreesLouisville will be hosting a tree giveaway at the Louisville Zoo, and on October 15th, TreesLouisville, Louisville Metro and Louisville Grows will be working with the Smoketown neighborhood on a community-wide planting day.

Interested in hosting your own Tree Week event? Register your event here or view a list of activity ideas !
Hosts will be recognized for their event through the Tree Week website, Facebook event page, and in a printed brochure which will be distributed at farmers markets, community events, coffee shops, libraries, schools, and more leading up to Tree Week. Submissions are due by September 10th in order to be included in any printed marketing.

Visit the Louisville Tree Week 2022 website to learn more!

The post Announcing Louisville’s First Annual Tree Week! appeared first on TreesLouisville .

Reforesting JCPS Schools: 2015-2022 Projects

Mon, 04 Apr 2022 14:03:00 GMT

Our strong partnership with Jefferson County Public Schools began in 2015, shortly after TreesLouisville was founded, and it has been nothing short of a success! Over the past seven years, we have reforested over 80 of JCPS’s 160 campuses and facilities with thousands of new trees planted across Jefferson County. Below you will find a comprehensive map of our projects, including the number of trees planted at each property, along with maps of schools planted within each of JCPS’s school districts.

The post Reforesting JCPS Schools: 2015-2022 Projects appeared first on TreesLouisville .

Sign Up Today! Spring Tree Giveaway for Rubbertown-Area Residents

Mon, 14 Mar 2022 16:17:00 GMT

As part of TreesLouisville’s 10,000-Tree Initiative for Rubbertown, we are offering 125 free 1-gallon container trees, along with free home delivery, to residents in ZIP codes within and surrounding the Rubbertown area! Residents of the following ZIP codes are eligible to apply: 40210, 40211, 40212, 40216, 40258, 40272

Participants have the option of choosing between four different species (Willow Oak, Bur Oak, Shumard Oak, and Shellbark Hickory) and may receive up to two trees per household. Trees are available on a first-come, first-served basis until all trees have been claimed.

Registration ends April 1, 2022 with deliveries beginning in late March/early April 2022.

For more information, contact info@treeslouisville.org.

Register For a Free Tree

The post Sign Up Today! Spring Tree Giveaway for Rubbertown-Area Residents appeared first on TreesLouisville .

Louisville releases new Urban Tree Canopy assessment

Thu, 17 Feb 2022 13:54:00 GMT

The initial Louisville Metro Urban Tree Canopy Assessment that was released in 2015 predicted a steep decline in Louisville Metro’s overall tree canopy. That study documented a loss of the equivalent of 820 acres of tree canopy annually over the study period between 2004 and 2012.

TreesLouisville commissioned the University of Vermont’s Spatial Analysis Lab to do a followup study that reanalyzed the 2012 data and compared it to the 2019 data. The good news is that instead of a steady decline in canopy, we have not just held steady, we have increased our canopy by 1%.

This is great news because it means that the collective efforts of our tree planting partners are working. The combined efforts of Metro Parks and Recreation Divisions of Parks Forestry, Landscape, and Community Forestry, non profit organizations and additional government entities like TreesLouisville, Olmsted Parks Conservancy, 21st Century Parks, Louisville Grows, and the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet are improving our overall tree canopy.

A robust tree canopy has everything to do with the health of our community. Trees provide multiple economic, environmental and social services. They improve air quality, manage stormwater, mitigate the urban heat island effect, support wildlife and sequester carbon. Even more importantly, trees improve neighborhood cohesion, increase property values, reduce crime and improve student performance.

READ THE 2022 URBAN TREE CANOPY ASSESSMENT

READ THE 2022 UTC FACT SHEET

VIEW CANOPY CHANGE BY COUNCIL DISTRICT

The post Louisville releases new Urban Tree Canopy assessment appeared first on TreesLouisville .

Read the 2020-2021 Annual Report

Mon, 10 Jan 2022 18:16:00 GMT

The post Read the 2020-2021 Annual Report! appeared first on TreesLouisville.

Read the first edition of the Louisville Green Report

Tue, 07 Dec 2021 19:04:00 GMT

TreesLouisville recently published a report showcasing the hard work of many of the organizations around Louisville whose missions support a healthier, happier, and more sustainable Louisville! In these pages, you’ll see how different groups are “greening” Louisville through their unique programs and special projects and learn how you can be a part of these efforts through various volunteer opportunities.

Our FINAL Pappy van Winkle Raffle!

Mon, 15 Nov 2021 16:46:00 GMT

Enter to win a rare bottle of 15-year aged Pappy Van Winkle bourbon! In addition to being difficult to find, this bottle has signed by Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery president Julian Van Winkle III!

Only 200 tickets will be sold for this raffle; participants may purchase as many tickets as they would like. All proceeds directly benefit TreesLouisville’s mission of preserving and expanding Louisville’s urban tree canopy! Raffle will be drawn live online on December 15, 2021 at 12pm on TreesLouisville’s Facebook Live page.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Raffle winner will have 30 days to pick up their bottle or arrange delivery. Due to Kentucky state law, shipping will not be provided and the winner must show proof of age at pick up.

Tickets are nonrefundable. All proceeds go directly to TreesLouisville and its programs which are designed to increase Louisville’s tree canopy coverage to 45%.

Present full-time employees, board members of TreesLouisville, and immediate family (spouse, domestic partner, child) are ineligible to enter.

Ticket purchases are non tax-deductible.

By entering to win you have read, understand, and are agreeing to the official rules states above.

Louisville Metro Temporary Liquor License #LIC-ABT-21-00173

KY State Special Temporary Alcoholic Beverage Auction License #056-TA-186977

Charitable Gaming License #ORG0002688

The post Our FINAL Pappy van Winkle Raffle! appeared first on TreesLouisville .

Pappy Van Winkle Raffle – Round Two!

Tue, 24 Aug 2021 21:01:00 GMT

Purchase A Raffle Ticket!

Enter to win a bundle of two rare bottles of Pappy Van Winkle bourbon! This bundle contains one 10-year and one 12-year bottle, both signed by Old Rip Van Winkle Distillery president Julian Van Winkle III!

Only 100 tickets will be sold for this raffle; participants may purchase as many tickets as they would like. All proceeds directly benefit TreesLouisville’s mission of preserving and expanding Louisville’s urban tree canopy! Raffle will be drawn live online on October 15, 2021 at 12pm on TreesLouisville’s Facebook Live page.

TERMS & CONDITIONS

Raffle winner will have 30 days to pick up their bottle or arrange delivery. Due to Kentucky state law, shipping will not be provided and the winner must show proof of age at pick up.
Tickets are nonrefundable. All proceeds go directly to TreesLouisville and its programs which are designed to increase Louisville’s tree canopy coverage to 45%.
Present full-time employees, board members of TreesLouisville, and immediate family (spouse, domestic partner, child) are ineligible to enter.
Ticket purchases are non tax-deductible.

By entering to win you have read, understand, and are agreeing to the official rules states above.

Louisville Metro Temporary Liquor License #LIC-ABT-21-00105

KY State Special Temporary Alcoholic Beverage Auction License #056-TA-185180

Charitable Gaming License #ORG0002688

The post Pappy Van Winkle Raffle – Round Two! appeared first on TreesLouisville .

Enter to win two bottles of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon and support TreesLouisville!

Mon, 26 Jul 2021 16:40:00 GMT

Purchase A Raffle Ticket

Looking to add to your bourbon collection or provide the perfect gift to a dear friend? One lucky bourbon enthusiast will take home TWO Pappy Van Winkle bottles, one 10 year and one 12 year, by entering our bourbon raffle. Both bottles have been signed by Old Rip Van Winkle distillery president Julian Van Winkle III!

This is the first of three Pappy raffles to benefit TreesLouisville, which will take place over the next three months.

A drawing to select the winner will take place on Facebook Live On August 16th at 12pm. All participants will be provided with the link and are able to watch even without a Facebook account.

The winner will have 30 days to pick up their bottle or arrange delivery. Due to Kentucky State law, shipping will not be provided and the winner must show proof of age at pick up. Only 100 tickets will be sold per bottle raffled, meaning there is a 1/100 chance to win. Participants may purchase as many tickets at they would like. Tickets are nonrefundable. All proceeds go directly to TreesLouisville and its programs which are designed to increase Louisville’s tree canopy coverage to 45%. Tickets are priced at $200 each. Present full-time employees, board members of TreesLouisville, and immediate family (spouse, domestic partner, child) are ineligible to enter.

By entering to win you have read, understand, and are agreeing to the official rules states above.

TreesLouisville Assigned Gaming Exemption Number ORG0002688
City of Louisville Alcohol License LIC-ABT-21-00102
State of Kentucky License 056-TA-185259

Mark your calendars for two other upcoming Pappy raffles, starting August 25th and September 24th!

The post Enter to win two bottles of Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon and support TreesLouisville! appeared first on TreesLouisville .

[VIDEO] Reforesting Downtown Louisville: A Partnership with KYTC

Wed, 03 Mar 2021 15:04:00 GMT

The post [VIDEO] Reforesting Downtown Louisville: A Partnership with KYTC appeared first on TreesLouisville .

WFPL: Louisville Group Works To Replenish Urban Tree Canopy

Thu, 11 Feb 2021 03:33:00 GMT

Our recent work planting trees downtown in partnership with the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet District 5 has been featured by WFPL!

Read the full article here.

The post WFPL: Louisville Group Works To Replenish Urban Tree Canopy appeared first on TreesLouisville .

Tree Giveaway at Cave Hill Cemetery on Saturday 11/7/20

Wed, 04 Nov 2020 15:28:00 GMT

The post Tree Giveaway at Cave Hill Cemetery on Saturday 11/7/20 appeared first on TreesLouisville .

WHAS11: TreesLouisville Kicks Off Tree Planting in Rubbertown

Fri, 16 Oct 2020 17:04:00 GMT

The post WHAS11: TreesLouisville Kicks Off Tree Planting in Rubbertown appeared first on TreesLouisville .

TreesLouisville featured in The Atlantic – October 2020

Sat, 10 Oct 2020 17:00:00 GMT

TreesLouisville was recently featured in The Atlantic! The article explores the current challenges that urban trees face in a changing climate and some of the methods that arborists around the country are utilizing to meet those challenges, like selecting tree species for specific traits like drought-hardiness and heat tolerance.

Read the full article here.

The post TreesLouisville featured in The Atlantic – October 2020 appeared first on TreesLouisville .

Read the TreesLouisville 2019/2020 Annual Report

Thu, 01 Oct 2020 16:44:00 GMT

The post Read the TreesLouisville 2019/2020 Annual Report appeared first on TreesLouisville.

An Arbor Day Message from TreesLouisville

Fri, 24 Apr 2020 15:42:00 GMT

The post An Arbor Day Message from TreesLouisville appeared first on TreesLouisville .

TreesLouisville featured in The Guardian!

Tue, 26 Nov 2019 19:51:00 GMT

Our Executive Director, Cindi Sullivan, was recently interviewed for an article by British publication The Guardian about some of the ways that TreesLouisville and other organizations are working to tackle rising temperatures and loss of canopy in our city.

Read the full article here.

The post TreesLouisville featured in The Guardian! appeared first on TreesLouisville .

Mapping the Impact of Historical Disinvestment on Urban Tree Canopy

Thu, 22 Aug 2019 16:32:00 GMT

Redlining was the discriminatory practice of withholding home ownership loans from residents of “distressed” neighborhoods in the first few decades of the 20th century. This practice occurred in cities across the US, including in Louisville. “Quality grades” for these areas were determined by the Home Owners’ Loan Corporation (HOLC), a publicly funded corporation created by the New Deal in 1933. Areas found to be “undesirable” (most often home to black, immigrant or low-income communities) were given the lowest grades and, quite literally, outlined in red on the HOLC maps. These maps have since been used by researchers to analyze the long term effects of disinvestment on urban areas. This research most often focuses on housing outcomes, but this disinvestment had a clear impact on the natural environment in urban settings.

By analyzing GIS data from the 2015 Louisville Urban Tree Canopy Assessment, we found that the percentage of tree canopy cover within neighborhoods strongly correlates with the quality grade that those neighborhoods were assigned by the HOLC. Areas deemed “undesirable” have an average present day canopy of 22%, while areas deemed “desirable” have an average of 49%. It is clear that the repercussions of redlining and disinvestment in certain areas of Louisville is still strongly felt to this day.

Addressing historical inequity is one of the main goals of our mission at TreesLouisville and helps determine the areas where we work. Nearly 70% of our planting projects occur in low canopy areas and we also reserve a higher percentage of our Community Canopy trees for residents in these areas. Using research like Redlining Louisville: Racism, Capitalism, and Real Estate we are able to find intersections between two seemingly unrelated topics and informs our efforts to work in a more equitable way.

View the Redlining and Tree Canopy Map

The post Mapping the Impact of Historical Disinvestment on Urban Tree Canopy appeared first on TreesLouisville .

Job Opportunity: Youth Arboriculture Summer Training Program

Wed, 22 May 2019 15:14:00 GMT

TreesLouisville is seeking multiple high school-age applicants for seven-week long summer Arboriculture/Plant Health Care/Data Collection Technician paid positions. Trainees will work with supervisors to learn tree identification and gain hands-on experience in tree best management practices, tree health evaluation and GIS data collection. Trainees will work in the field inspecting our tree planting projects and participate in enrichment activities, including field trips to local tree nurseries, arboreta and other horticultural destinations like Yew Dell Gardens and Cave Hill Cemetery.

Trainees will be scheduled to work 32 hours per week over the seven-week program: Monday-Thursday 8:30am-3:30pm and Friday 8:30am-12:30pm. Reliable transportation (car, bus, bike) to the TreesLouisville office (3110 Lexington Rd., 40206) is mandatory.

To apply, download and fill out the application, then submit completed application (along with any questions) to info@treeslouisville.org by June 7, 2019.

Click here to download the application [PDF]

The post Job Opportunity: Youth Arboriculture Summer Training Program appeared first on TreesLouisville .

WAVE3: Volunteers restoring neglected cemetery in Chickasaw neighborhood

Fri, 08 Mar 2019 16:48:00 GMT

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – A Louisville non-profit is fighting to preserve a piece of land that it says has been historically neglected.

The Greenwood Cemetery in the Chickasaw neighborhood, where most of those buried are African-American, is lined with shifting headstones and uprooted trees.

The organization Trees Louisville is hoping to clean those things up in order to honor the people buried there. The organization’s executive director, Cindi Sullivan, said she wants to end the trend of neglect.

“Decades of disinvestment need to be overcome,” Sullivan said. “That’s why I think it’s important for this community to have this as maybe a starting point.”

Sullivan said the cemetery’s decline stems from poor management practices from decades ago. The beautification project to overturn that is a long-term goal that will start this month.

Volunteers gathered Thursday and will reconvene Friday to clean up even more.

Sullivan said she will go before Jefferson Circuit Court Judge Angela Bisig seeking permission to plant trees in the cemetery.

The post WAVE3: Volunteers restoring neglected cemetery in Chickasaw neighborhood appeared first on TreesLouisville .

Non-profit TreesLouisville giving away more than 800 trees

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 20:58:00 GMT

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WHAS11) – A new program is helping replenish the city’s disappearing tree canopy and saving residents money.

Through a partnership with the Arbor Day Foundation, TreesLouisville is providing 870 free trees to Louisville residents.

The trees will help clean the air, filter water, and lower energy bills.

Some of the trees that will be offered include Tulip Poplar, Sycamore, Bald Cypress, Blackgum, Sugar Maple and Swamp White Oak.

Officials say the two-to-four-foot-tall trees will be delivered directly to customers.

The Community Canopy Project for Louisville will continue this project until all of the trees are reserved.

They are planning further opportunities for residents to have free trees through 2020.

The 870 trees are estimated to produce more than $500,000 in substantial community benefits within 20 years.

The post Non-profit TreesLouisville giving away more than 800 trees appeared first on TreesLouisville .

WAVE3: TreesLouisville To Plant 140 Trees at Newburg Middle School

Tue, 05 Mar 2019 20:55:00 GMT

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) – TreesLouisville is planting 140 trees at Newburg Middle School as part of our effort to improve the livability of Louisville through a robust tree canopy.

The tree planting is part of an ongoing partnership with JCPS that has seen over 2,500 trees planted across 42 campuses over the last three years.

According to a study released in 2015, Louisville loses 54,000 trees each year or the equivalent of 820 acres. Partners like JCPS enable plantings on a large scale that benefit our school campuses both environmentally and aesthetically.

Below is a statement from Newburg Middle School Principal Nicole Adell:

“As principal of Newburg Middle School who works very closely with community partners, having the opportunity to collaborate with Trees Louisville has been fantastic. Their approach to ensure that all stakeholders at the school level and within the Newburg Petersburg Community had input on the scope of the project was key. Trees Louisville has definitely been intentional with listening and responding to school and community members who will benefit from this project, and by doing so, there will be longevity to adding more trees to our community.”

The post WAVE3: TreesLouisville To Plant 140 Trees at Newburg Middle School appeared first on TreesLouisville .

TreesLouisville on WHAS11 Great Day Live! 12/14/2018

Mon, 17 Dec 2018 13:56:00 GMT

The post TreesLouisville on WHAS11 Great Day Live! 12/14/2018 appeared first on TreesLouisville .

TreesLouisville Kicks Off Planting Season with Four Truckloads of Trees

Mon, 19 Nov 2018 05:15:00 GMT

Vegetable gardeners are closing up shop for winter but tree lovers are pulling out their shovels to kick off the planting season.

TreesLouisville has a parking lot full of saplings that will help rebuild Louisville’s canopy. The four truckloads of trees will find new homes at several planting events on the 2018/19 calendar. The first one was Saturday, Nov. 3: TreeFest at The Flea Off Market .

A number of trees were installed in a newly depaved section of the parking lot at Fresh Start Growers Supply, which will grow to provide shade to Flea Off Market attendees and pedestrians along Baxter Avenue as well as intercept storm water runoff and reduce the urban heat island effect. Participants were able to help in the tree planting process and had the opportunity to take home free one-gallon container trees provided by the Louisville Metro Division of Community Forestry.

“We’ve been working with companies and schools to plant more trees,” said Cindi Sullivan, executive director of TreesLouisville. “TreeFest was a chance to get more homeowners involved.”

More of the trees from the four truckloads went to a tree giveaway sponsored by CSX at YouthBuild on Nov. 10.

TreesLouisville’s third November event was a partnership planting with Waterfront Botanical Gardens on Saturday, Nov. 17 from 9:30-11am at the Beargrass Creek Greenway. The two organizations are using trees to plant a green buffer to filter runoff from roads and parking lots before it lands in Beargrass Creek.

“We’re providing the trees and the gardeners are providing the volunteer labor,” Sullivan said.

Sullivan has been working with teachers and principals throughout Jefferson County to get more trees in school yards. She is also working with Louisville employers. Sullivan has worked with public and private funders to make strategic investments in the city’s tree population. Her goal is to make rebuilding the urban forest a team effort. Sullivan said that collaboration is the key to planting enough trees to keep the city green and healthy.

“If everyone in Louisville planted one tree, we’d be out of a job!” she said.

The post TreesLouisville Kicks Off Planting Season with Four Truckloads of Trees appeared first on TreesLouisville .

A Letter from Mayor Greg Fischer

Tue, 02 Oct 2018 13:36:00 GMT

Many people look at a nice tree — one that is just starting to bud for spring and which, in the fall, turns brilliant yellow before the leaves drop to the ground in confetti of color. I look at a tree and see many other things. Indeed, it’s beautiful — but it’s more. It provides shade on a hot summer day and helps reduce the temperature of our downtown, which is covered largely with buildings and asphalt. When it rains, this tree soaks up moisture, keeping that water from flowing into our combined sewer system. The tree helps clean the air and takes carbon dioxide out of the atmosphere.

That tree — the 6.2 million other trees in our city across all 400 square miles of Louisville — are just as vital as our roads and our bridges — a tree is a significant contributor to our city’s infrastructure. Trees bring significant value to our city and its citizens.

For the past five years, my administration has wrestled with what we knew was a problem — our declining tree canopy. We saw it as the Emerald Ash Borer took hold and felled many trees; we saw it as the major ice and wind storm from several years ago toppled many old trees.

Although we knew a tree decline was happening, we didn’t have the data to prove it…until now. Last year, we launched a project to measure our tree canopy — where it’s been, where it’s going and why.

The results: We are losing about 54,000 trees a year.

The American Forests organization recommends a tree canopy of 45 percent. It will take many years, decades even, to reach that percentage. But we must start now. A poor tree canopy isn’t just an aesthetic issue — it’s a business and homeowner issue.

A depleted tree canopy leads to higher energy bills for businesses and homes; it means our city is physically hotter, which exacerbates health issues especially for the sick and elderly; it makes our city less desirable compared to cities with greater canopies; and it also affects property values. Mature trees add value to homes and businesses.

The Canopy Study concludes that the trees in Louisville provide $330 million in services each year to our community. That $330 million includes costs avoided by keeping water out of the sewers and removing carbon dioxide from the air.

Do you have an idea on how to tackle this problem? Does your business want to help? Do you have ideas for increasing our tree canopy?

This is an issue we will have to tackle one tree at a time. And this must be a true community initiative — the private sector (business, non-profits, houses of worship, etc) plants more trees than government.

Government’s role is to identify the problem then help design a community plan to increase our tree canopy. Metro Government will do its part to plant trees, but the majority of land in our city is in private hands.

This effort takes everyone, from the kid on a street corner selling $1 lemonades to help plant trees in her neighborhood to a corporation donating $1 million for helping to grow the canopy. To support that initiative, we are creating the non-profit group, “TreesLouisville”. This new entity will be dedicated to raising money to plant and maintain trees — and engaging the public in encouraging tree plantings. The executive director is a name we are all familiar with — gardening expert Cindi Sullivan.

The post A Letter from Mayor Greg Fischer appeared first on TreesLouisville .