Community Forestry Resource Handbook: a Guide for Establishing and Maintaining Healthy Community Forests Across Nebraska
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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Publications, etc. -- Nebraska Forest Service Nebraska Forest Service 2006 Community Forestry Resource Handbook: A guide for establishing and maintaining healthy community forests across Nebraska Matthew C. Hansen University of Nebraska Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebforestpubs Part of the Forest Sciences Commons Hansen, Matthew C., "Community Forestry Resource Handbook: A guide for establishing and maintaining healthy community forests across Nebraska" (2006). Publications, etc. -- Nebraska Forest Service. 21. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/nebforestpubs/21 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Nebraska Forest Service at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Publications, etc. -- Nebraska Forest Service by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. Community Forestry Resource Handbook A guide for establishing and maintaining healthy community forests across Nebraska. The Nebraska Forest Service: Nebraska Improving peoples’ lives by protecting, Forest Service utilizing and enhancing Nebraska’s tree and forest resources. FOREWORD The Nebraska Forest Service (NFS) has served the communities of Nebraska since the beginnings of the Federal Urban and Community Forestry program in 1976. Since that time, the NFS has worked actively with well over half of the state’s 534 cities and villages. In addition, NFS foresters have done public tree inventories, resource assessments and management plans for 175 of those communities. The NFS endeavors to provide the best and most recent technical forestry and arboricultural information to help communities manage their tree resources. Community tree resources are assets that need to be managed and cared for just as any other part of the community infrastructure (lights, water, sanitation, etc.). Decisions concerning the management of these resources need to be based on science and sound technical information. This handbook has been developed to provide a base for these kinds of decisions and activities. ACKNOWLEGEMENTS PROJECT COORDINATORS University of Nebraska David Mooter – Nebraska Forest Service Catherine Schumacher – Nebraska Statewide Arboretum TECHNICAL CONSULTANTS University of Nebraska Rachel Allison – Nebraska Forest Service Justin Evertson – Nebraska Statewide Arboretum Mark Harrell – Nebraska Forest Service Dr. Scott Josiah – Nebraska Forest Service Christine Meyer – University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension Chip Murrow – Nebraska Forest Service EDITOR University of Nebraska Matthew C. Hansen – Department of English SPECIAL THANKS Dr. Gary Hergenrader – Nebraska State Forester Nebraska Community Forestry Council Minnesota Tree Trust FUNDING This project was made possible by a grant from the USDA Forest Service, State and Private Forestry, Urban and Community Forestry Program Updated November 27, 2006 Eric Berg – Nebraska Forest Service Becky Erdkamp – Nebraska Forest Service The University of Nebraska–Lincoln does not discriminate based on gender, age, disability, race, color, religion, marital status, veteran’s status, national or ethnic origin or sexual orientation. TABLE OF CONTENTS Section I: Introduction The Community Forestry Resource Handbook .......................................................1 Why Develop a Community Forestry Program........................................................1 Section II: Developing a Community Forestry Program Community Tree Board ...........................................................................................5 Tree Ordinances ......................................................................................................7 Trees and Legal Issues..............................................................................................9 Section III: Planning and Designing your Community Forest How Trees Grow and Thrive .................................................................................11 The Story in Trees: What Tree Rings Tell Us.......................................................13 Leaf Drop ...............................................................................................................14 Soils........................................................................................................................14 Site Analysis...........................................................................................................15 Planning Process ....................................................................................................16 Planting Site Requirements....................................................................................19 Design Assistance...................................................................................................19 Section IV: Plant Selection Choosing Proper Plant Material.............................................................................21 Woody Landscape Plants for Nebraska..................................................................25 Herbaceous Perennials and Ornamental Grasses ..................................................26 Section V: Tree Planting and Care The Complete Process............................................................................................29 Street Tree Planting Considerations......................................................................39 Roadside Planting Considerations..........................................................................41 Section VI: Long-term Tree Care Planting Trees for the Long-term...........................................................................43 Pruning...................................................................................................................58 Fertilizing................................................................................................................62 Additional Information..........................................................................................64 Section VII: Special Considerations: Windbreaks, ii Buffers and Wildlife Windbreaks ............................................................................................................65 Riparian Buffers......................................................................................................68 Wildlife in Windbreaks ..........................................................................................73 Edible Landscapes ..................................................................................................75 Section VIII: Appendices A. Arbor Day ........................................................................................................81 B. Tree City USA .................................................................................................85 C. Insect and Disease Control ............................................................................101 D. Edible Landscapes ..........................................................................................109 E. Plant Classification and Binomial Nomenclature .........................................117 F. Guide to Woody Plants..................................................................................119 G. Nebraska Forest Service Districts: Map and Contacts...................................149 H. Community Forestry Resources .....................................................................151 I. Terms .............................................................................................................155 iii Section I – Introduction The Community Forestry informational sheets may be added to Resource Handbook this handbook. The Community Forestry Resource Why Develop a Community Handbook has been developed to Forestry Program? provide information and references to city clerks, park and city planners, An organized plan for managing community tree boards, beautification the forest resources in any community committees, park departments, soil will yield significant benefits for both conservationists, foresters, arborists, the community and the environment. landscape designers, nursery personnel, Not only are there immediate and county extension personnel and obvious benefits, such as the improved anyone whose duty is to cultivate and appearance of a city street gracefully enhance a local urban or community lined with trees in bloom, but a forestry program. community forest plan – with a The information included has been dedicated Community Tree Board – selected as a guide to develop and will also address the often unforeseen maintain community forestry programs legal issues associated with urban beginning with the organization and landscapes. incorporation of, and legislation City trees often perform several related to establishing, a Community functional duties. Trees offer privacy, Tree Board, a key first step in emphasize an object or landscape and developing a community forest and shield intolerable scenes. They community forest plan. This is followed moderate glare and reflection and by a step-by-step guide through the guide pedestrian travel. Trees not only processes of site selection and create backgrounds that aesthetically preparation and the careful harmonize the rigid lines of urban development, selection and care of structures, they also play a significant plant species. A guide for long-term role in diminishing noise pollution by care is also included.