Save Our Trees: Don’t Move Firewood!

Here in Ojai, we live in a remnant oak forest and our oak trees sometimes need to be pruned or removed for safety reasons. A common dilemma is what to do with the large pieces of wood that are left after pruning. Oak is excellent firewood and there is high demand for good firewood. But oaks also are being attacked by some pretty nasty pests which can kill them. Sycamore trees also may harbor some of these pests. Obviously if you burn the wood the pests will perish. But what about in the meantime?

As we mourn the loss of close to 400 decades-old trees from our local parks, at least there’s this good news: there's a lot we can do to protect the big trees that still live in our midst. Nothing will ever bring back those majestic trees, and no matter how many new trees are planted in their place, it will still take decades to recover the beauty, sustenance and shade they so generously provided to humans and animals alike. But at least this tragedy can be a spur to do the right thing for the mature trees we already have.

What do oak trees and wine have in common? A lot it turns out.

The Cork oak tree traditionally was “farmed” and to this day continues to provide corks for the wine industry. A medium-sized evergreen oak that is native to the central and western Mediterranean region also grows well here in Ojai.

Since we were founded in 2008 by Ojai landscape architect and visionary Tom Bostrom, the all-volunteer Ojai Trees has planted 1,945 trees, gracing yards, streets, schools and parks throughout the Valley.

What does this accomplishment mean?

Have you ever wished the cremated ashes of your loved ones could be planted with a tree creating a living memorial ?

Well, Ojai Trees is now partnering with local funeral home, Marshall Funeral, to do just that.

When people think of Southern California they often think of the palm trees swaying along our beaches but in a time of climate change, as trees, they don’t do much.

Ojai is facing an insurance crisis. Because of our Valley's undeniable fire risk, home insurance companies are starting to either deny coverage outright, or call for drastic tree trimming that can be a serious threat to our residential trees. The irony is that according to many fire and tree experts, these tree trimming demands are NOT necessary for fire safety, and can even make our homes more vulnerable to climate change.

Join consulting arborist and Ojai Trees board member Jan Scow for a free “tree walk” around town. Jan will lead a small group for an hour long tour of some of the notable trees that share our streets and landscapes in Ojai.

Have you been thinking about adding even more shade and beauty to your property? Contact Ojai Trees for advice, sourcing, and even volunteer help to get a tree planted this fall!

Have you seen a strange discharge landing on your parked car, driveway or lawn furniture? It may be “Drippy Acorn Disease.” According to the University of California Agriculture and Natural Resource (UCANR), there is no need to panic: “that clear, brownish, or frothy viscous liquid sometimes drips from the acorns of coast live oak and interior live oak.

In our previous blog post (Size Matters: Small is Better!) we discussed why it is beneficial to plant nursery trees in smaller containers. Yes, in the beginning, it is best to start out with trees that are small and have only been in the nursery for a short while. But it is also most beneficial to plant trees that will become large as they mature.

One of the most pressing issues in the news these days is global warming. It is an important issue, and trees play a role in it, but it may not always be clear exactly what that role is. I offer a simple discussion below for those who are interested in understanding more about the subject.

It is well known among landscape professionals that people want larger plants when they get their landscape done. This is also well known by arborists. The client wants their new tree/plant/landscape to “look great” as soon as it is planted. This is understandable but it is not “best practice”. Let’s consider why, focusing on trees.

Rain, Rain, We love the rain and hoping Ojai valley residents are making the most of the rain that has fallen. What does that mean? That can mean something as easy as creating places for the much needed rain to accumulate and soak into the ground (instead of running off your property and out into the street.)

Trees are not just tall woody plants that provide shade and oxygen. They are magnificent, complex organisms that have been around for millions of years, shaping and sustaining life on our planet. Trees are truly remarkable in many ways, but one fact that often goes overlooked is that we share 50% of our DNA with them.

We knew that the more than 1,800 trees planted by Ojai Trees over the past 15 years are enhancing our lives. Now we hear we may be literally saving lives.

A recent study in Portland, Oregon has found a direct correlation between planting new trees and fewer people dying. The study followed the Portland nonprofit Friends of Trees’ planting of nearly 50,000 trees around the city over the past thirty years.

As described in a recent Washington Post story, the researchers from the U.S. Forest Service found that for each 100 trees planted in the city, there was roughly one fewer non-accidental death a year.

Finding an arborist who knows how to prune properly can be tricky. Hiring a well qualified pruning contractor (arborist) is not always as easy as it sounds. We hope the following steps from consulting arborist Jan Scow can help you accomplish this with the minimum of stress.

We are thrilled to be launching a new community educational program, free of charge. Join local consulting arborist and Ojai Trees Board member Jan Scow for a “tree walk” around town.

This year’s Ojai Trees Gold Leaf Award went to Mark Silbernagel for his volunteer spirit at January’s quarterly board meeting. Ojai Trees loves our volunteers and depends on them year round for plantings events and so much more! The Golden Leaf Award is given out to recognize this and show

As the weather is still chilly and the trees are still mostly dormant, now might be a good time to take a look at your yard and give special attention to any damaged tree branches on your canopy trees and/or train any young fruit trees for the proper shape and health.