Community association tree rescues
Why are native trees important to your community?
Native trees and woods add value
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Higher property values
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Beauty
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Cooling shade
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Lower air conditioning costs
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Wind breaks
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Stormwater and erosion control
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Reduced risk of asthma
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Support for songbirds
Dying trees are expensive
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Potential hazards
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Costly removals
Our native trees face many threats in Northern Virginia.
From humans
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New development and redevelopment
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Road projects and other public projects
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Poor pruning practices
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Poor planting practices
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Mulch piled around the base
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Injuries from mowers and string trimmers
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Soil compaction from vehicles and heavy equipment
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Road salt
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Unnecessary tree removals
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Heat island effect
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Lack of preventative care
From "nature" (much of it human caused)
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Non-native pests and diseases
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Non-native vines that strangle or smother
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Non-native trees that displace the natives
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Rising temperatures and changing rain patterns
Healthy Sycamore felled by English Ivy - on the power line
What can your community do?
Educate
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Use community newsletters, NextDoor.com, local social media groups to push out your articles or those of Plant NOVA Trees
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Address concerns about hazardous trees
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Encourage people to save work on raking by leaving leaves in place
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Conduct walking tours of notable native trees in the neighborhood
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Put on other fun events
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Label the native trees
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Encourage neighbors to control English Ivy (Choking Hazard initiative)
Work together
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Create a conservation team
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Create a tree replacement plan for common land.
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Adopt better tree care procedures.
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Hire an independent certified arborist to do tree risk assessments.
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Hire a company to remove invasive plants.
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Find volunteers for the regional Tree Rescuers program.