Tag: gardening

In my excitement last week, I forgot to mention something. Something pretty big that affects all folks in this industry, including our clients and families.

The NEW Z133 is out, for free as a virtual download!

Download a free copy from the International Society of Arboriculture:

English

Español

Quick reminder that the Tree Steward program is still accepting new applications (click the image to go directly to the application):

There are five live webinar CEU opportunities this week.

Wednesday

Giving Trees a Second Life: Managing Urban Habitat Trees @11:00 Mountain

Dead, dying, and decaying trees are usually seen as urban forestry liabilities—but they are also some of the most valuable wildlife habitats in our cities.

Join us for Giving Trees a Second Life: Managing Urban Habitat Trees to explore how habitat trees support biodiversity and provide critical shelter and food sources for urban wildlife. From legacy trees to fallen logs, discover how habitat value increases with tree age.

We will examine practical strategies for managing habitat trees in urban environments while balancing public safety, risk management, and community education. Learn how arborists and urban forestry professionals can integrate wildlife value into tree risk assessment and long-term management decisions, including innovative techniques such as fracture pruning, coronet cuts, artificial cavities, and the strategic placement of dropped logs. Gain insight into national conservation programs that bring people together to create healthier communities – and important role of urban trees.

Whether you are developing habitat-focused management policies or looking for practical field applications, this session will provide actionable tools and fresh perspectives for creating more ecologically resilient urban forests.

Register today and discover how trees can continue to serve their communities long after decline begins.

Register Here

Thursday

The Science Behind Tree Growth Regulators @ 10am Mountain

Curious how tree growth regulators work their magic? This session breaks down the fascinating science of paclobutrazol (The most common used TGR) revealing how it changes trees from the inside out and what those changes mean in the real world. Get ready for eye-opening examples and practical applications you can use in your own tree care.

Register Here

Urban Wood: Where Opportunities and Traditions Meet @ 10am Mountain

The use of wood from urban and community forestry operations is emerging as an opportunity to utilize “waste” to create products and jobs while activating relationships with the people we serve. These materials also connect us to the land, history, and sustainable practices. Join us to see how putting urban and community wood to best use can strengthen your efforts towards resilient and equitable management.

Register Here

American Elm Tree Resistance Breeding and Restoration @ 11:00 am Mountain

The US Forest Service and partners are breeding American elm trees with resistance to Dutch elm disease. Hear the latest updates from resistance trials and progress on seed orchard plantings.

Dr. Kathleen Knight is a research ecologist with the US Forest Service Northern Research Station. She co-leads the American elm breeding program and studies impacts and management of emerald ash borer.

Register Here

Manage the Threat: Emerald Ash Borer in New Markets @2pm Mountain

Emerald ash borer is still spreading into new regions across United States. For professionals facing this problem for the first time, we will review how the insect moves to new territory, reproduces, and kills ash trees. We will also cover insecticides, equipment, and general strategies for executing a treatment plan that limits the spread and protects valuable trees. The 45-minute presentation will be followed by 15 minutes of Q&A. 

Register Here

On-Demand CEUs

Arbsession Training Videos

Watch Here

Forestry Webinars

The Webinar Portal, a product of Southern Regional Extension Forestry (SREF) and winner of the 2011 USDA Forest Service’s Two Chiefs’ Partnership Award, is a “multi discipline” web platform used to promote and deliver live and on-demand virtual events and webinars focused on forestry, agriculture, conservation, climate science and other natural resource disciplines.

Watch Here

TreeStuff Webinars on YouTube

Watch a video and pass the quiz to qualify for free ISA CEUs.

Watch Here

Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA)

Introduction to Arboriculture Safety (1.25 ISA CEUs)

In this program, you will learn about general tree care safety so that you can avoid accidents while working in the field.

Susan Harwood Grant program OSHA Trainings (Up to 5 ISA CEUs)

Free TCIA Member Webinars

Remember, you can always ask your local ISA chapter if your event qualifies for CEUs.

If your organization is hosting a free in-person or virtual ISA CEU opportunity, please reach out to so we can share it!

Subscribe to continue to receive free notifications for no-cost ISA CEU events.

After moving to Utah as a teenager, desert landscapes and their Pinyon-Juniper forests struck me as otherworldly. I was used to being in the deciduous forests of the Southeastern US and Central Europe.

As an adult, I found out that Juniper was particularly meaningful in my family. Pinyon had her place of honor as well, but wasn’t quite to Juniper’s celebrity status.

So when I was hiking in Ratón two weeks ago, it was especially poignant to meet multiple grandmother Juniper; I’ve only seen old-growth Juniper in a handful of places outside of national parks, usually in places that were remote and very difficult to get to, even with 4WD.

This time, I didn’t have my DBH tape on me, but I had to step back about 10 feet to get only a portion of the tree in the above photo, and this was the “smallest” Juniper. Note her trunk and the texture; it wasn’t an even circle. It’s innumerable layers of irregularly laid xylem. I’d hazard a guess that these particular individuals may be old enough to be categorized as “veteran”, or even “ancient” trees.

If you take a look at this map, you’ll probably notice that old growth forests are a bit rare.

Why do old growth forests matter? There are many reasons, but I like to highlight that trees become more efficient as they get older and are biodiversity hotspots.

The Old Growth Forest Network has a cool mapping resource to find old growth forests near you.

There are many types of “old growth” ecosystems and my one of my favorites are “old growth” sagebrush and grass “forests”.

Here’s a link to a well-loved resource to learn how to identify all the different species of sagebrush in the western US.

Unfortunately, there are no federal laws protecting trees (or other living and non-living beings) unless they’re in a designated area of land that has special protections, are an endangered species, or a host to an endangered species. It’s difficult to get plants on the federal endangered species lists.

Folks may think that if their community has Tree City USA status, the trees are automatically protected. Unless the community develops and passes tree-protection ordinances, trees are not protected “by default”. The initial requirements to qualify are broad enough that most communities focus on maintenance, rather than protection; however, Growth Awards do help in that regard.

While federal protections can be difficult to obtain, local, municipal, county and state ordinances can be an easier lift for a dedicated set of volunteers.

If you’re interested in supporting the health of trees, a free class is available through Tree Board University to get trained as a tree board member.

If you’re in New Mexico or are seeking guidance to develop an urban forestry plan for your community, the Southwest New Mexico Community Forestry Project has developed multiple urban forestry plans that are available to the public (scroll down about halfway).

There’s also an opportunity to become a Tree Steward through Tree New Mexico’s statewide program:

There are no live webinar CEU opportunities this week.

On-Demand CEUs

Arbsession Training Videos

Watch Here

Forestry Webinars

The Webinar Portal, a product of Southern Regional Extension Forestry (SREF) and winner of the 2011 USDA Forest Service’s Two Chiefs’ Partnership Award, is a “multi discipline” web platform used to promote and deliver live and on-demand virtual events and webinars focused on forestry, agriculture, conservation, climate science and other natural resource disciplines.

Watch Here

TreeStuff Webinars on YouTube

Watch a video and pass the quiz to qualify for free ISA CEUs.

Watch Here

Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA)

Introduction to Arboriculture Safety (1.25 ISA CEUs)

In this program, you will learn about general tree care safety so that you can avoid accidents while working in the field.

Susan Harwood Grant program OSHA Trainings (Up to 5 ISA CEUs)

Free TCIA Member Webinars

Remember, you can always ask your local ISA chapter if your event qualifies for CEUs.

If your organization is hosting a free in-person or virtual ISA CEU opportunity, please reach out to so we can share it!

Subscribe to continue to receive free notifications for no-cost ISA CEU events.

Hi everyone,

Last week was a success!

Over the course of 1.5 days near Anaconda, Montana, we had the opportunity to teach about native and invasive plants to over 40 students between the ages of 16-24.

We also discussed the importance of stewardship and responsible recreation on public land. It was a rewarding experience, with training and support from Society of American Foresters.

We highly recommend working with this partnership as a volunteer educator. If you’re an ISA Certified Arborist, the Rocky Mountain Chapter has approved certain sections for instructor-applied CEUs. If you’re in another chapter, it’s likely that those same CEUs will be approved, too.

Interested in becoming a volunteer educator? Fill out the Educator Interest Application.

We’re looking forward to seeing how this program develops over the next few years and the conservation education outcomes for the trades.

Tree New Mexico’s Tree Steward Program

Applications are open until August 1st, 2026. Tree Stewards is a statewide urban forestry training & education program covering popular topics, lessons, field trips, plantings (and more!) with guidance and training from various experts for 14 weeks. I supported this program last year as a mentor, lab leader and recently assisted with curriculum review. I highly recommend it if you’re wanting to assist with tree plantings as a volunteer, are seeking foundational training in tree work, or want to learn more about trees. If you are considering a career in arboriculture and live in New Mexico, this program is perfect for you too.

There are 2 live webinar CEU opportunities this week.

Thursday, May 28

Urban Wood Webinar@ 10:00am-11:00am Mountain

What:Municipal urban wood programs are a cornerstone of the urban wood industry. Across the country, cities have built partnerships with local urban wood processors. At this educational webinar, audience members will learn about Harrisonburg, Virginia urban wood projects and collaborations with Rocktown Urban Wood.

Program Description:

The Harrisonburg Urban Wood Program works to reclaim wood from trees that are removed in the city—whether due to storms, disease, or development—and redirects that material away from waste streams. Instead of ending up as mulch or landfill, the wood gets a second life.

That’s where Rocktown Urban Wood comes in as a key partner. They take that salvaged wood and transform it into usable products—furniture, lumber, and custom pieces—while also supporting local craftsmanship and small-scale manufacturing.

Together, the partnership does a few important things:

• Reduces waste by repurposing urban trees
• Supports the local economy through skilled labor and woodworking
• Preserves local character by keeping materials tied to the community
• Promotes sustainability in a very visible, tangible way

Harrisonburg has strong community buy-in and valuable public-private partnerships for this program

Register Here

Tree Pruning Essentials: Techniques for Stronger, Safer Trees @ 1:00pm-2:00pm Mountain

Register Here

On-Demand CEUs

Arbsession Training Videos

Watch Here

Forestry Webinars

The Webinar Portal, a product of Southern Regional Extension Forestry (SREF) and winner of the 2011 USDA Forest Service’s Two Chiefs’ Partnership Award, is a “multi discipline” web platform used to promote and deliver live and on-demand virtual events and webinars focused on forestry, agriculture, conservation, climate science and other natural resource disciplines.

Watch Here

TreeStuff Webinars on YouTube

Watch a video and pass the quiz to qualify for free ISA CEUs.

Watch Here

Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA)

Introduction to Arboriculture Safety (1.25 ISA CEUs)

In this program, you will learn about general tree care safety so that you can avoid accidents while working in the field.

Susan Harwood Grant program OSHA Trainings (Up to 5 ISA CEUs)

Free TCIA Member Webinars

Remember, you can always ask your local ISA chapter if your event qualifies for CEUs.

If your organization is hosting a free in-person or virtual ISA CEU opportunity, please reach out to so we can share it!

Subscribe to continue to receive free notifications for no-cost ISA CEU events.

Hi folks, we’re back!

First off, I’d like to thank you for your patience.

I’m feeling much better now and deeply appreciated the support and well-wishes from family, friends and colleagues.

In other news, I have three big updates for y’all:

Jobs Corps Program

This week, I’m on my way to Montana to collaborate with Society of American Foresters & United States Forest Service as a Volunteer Educator with the Job Corps program. I’ll have limited cell service so email and other communications may be a bit delayed.

Tree New Mexico’s Tree Steward Program

Applications are open until August 1st, 2026. Tree Stewards is a statewide urban forestry training & education program covering popular topics, lessons, field trips, plantings (and more!) with guidance and training from various experts for 14 weeks. I supported this program last year as a mentor, lab leader and recently assisted with curriculum review. I highly recommend it if you’re wanting to assist with tree plantings as a volunteer, are seeking foundational training in tree work, or want to learn more about trees. If you are considering a career in arboriculture and live in New Mexico, this program is perfect for you too.

There are 4 live webinar CEU opportunities this week.

Wednesday, May 20

Tecnología con Raíces: Cómo Usar Innovación sin Perder los Fundamentos del Manejo del Árbol@ 5:30am-6:30am Mountain

Register Here (Scroll down)

Engagement in Urban Forestry Leadership@ 11:00am-12:00pm Mountain

Community engagement is often treated as a supporting activity—but what if it were recognized as a core leadership function?

In this dynamic Learning Series session, we will explore how to elevate engagement from a checklist of outreach tasks to a leadership-centered framework that informs strategic planning, risk assessment, and municipal operations. Drawing on real-world experience, this session demonstrates how meaningful community engagement strengthens trust, advances equity, and reduces operational and political risk.

Grounded in the UCFS Accreditation Standards, this session highlights best practices for embedding engagement into policy, building trust through transparent structures, and communicating with cultural awareness. Real-life case studies illustrate how insufficient engagement can create operational, reputational, political, and equity risks—and how those challenges can be transformed through deeper collaboration and shared decision-making. You’ll leave with a practical framework for aligning engagement approaches with project risk levels.

Designed for municipal foresters, nonprofit programs, and community leaders, Centering Community Engagement in Urban Forestry Leadership emphasizes that community engagement is not an “extra” skill—it’s a foundational leadership responsibility essential for advancing equity, mitigating risk, and ensuring long-term program success.

Join us to transform the way you lead—you’ll gain the tools, strategies, and inspiration to make community engagement a driving force in your urban forestry programs.

At the end of the webinar, participants will be able to:

1. Incorporate engagement strategies that build trust, advance equity, and reduce operational and political risk.
2. Apply a leadership-centered framework to integrate community engagement into strategic planning, risk assessment, and municipal operations.
3. Evaluate how different levels of engagement (inform, consult, involve, collaborate, empower) align with project risk and community impact.

Register Here

UAA Webinar: Safely Introducing Helicopter Trimming Operations at a Rural Co-Op @ 11:00am-12:00pm Mountain

Register Here

Thursday, May 21

Lessons Learned in Atlanta’s South River Forest@10:00am -11:00am Mountain

Atlanta’s proposed South River Forest represents both the promise and complexity of creating a major urban conservation landscape. Dr. Cassandra Johnson Gaither with the USFS found that support for protecting the forest is strong, but her research underscores a key lesson: planning processes must meaningfully reflect and engage the communities most connected to the land. Join us to see how this important guidance for advancing urban forests can strengthen your efforts towards resilient and equitable management. 

Register Here

On-Demand CEUs

Arbsession Training Videos

Watch Here

Forestry Webinars

The Webinar Portal, a product of Southern Regional Extension Forestry (SREF) and winner of the 2011 USDA Forest Service’s Two Chiefs’ Partnership Award, is a “multi discipline” web platform used to promote and deliver live and on-demand virtual events and webinars focused on forestry, agriculture, conservation, climate science and other natural resource disciplines.

Watch Here

TreeStuff Webinars on YouTube

Watch a video and pass the quiz to qualify for free ISA CEUs.

Watch Here

Tree Care Industry Association (TCIA)

Introduction to Arboriculture Safety (1.25 ISA CEUs)

In this program, you will learn about general tree care safety so that you can avoid accidents while working in the field.

Susan Harwood Grant program OSHA Trainings (Up to 5 ISA CEUs)

Free TCIA Member Webinars

Remember, you can always ask your local ISA chapter if your event qualifies for CEUs.

If your organization is hosting a free in-person or virtual ISA CEU opportunity, please reach out to so we can share it!

Subscribe to continue to receive free notifications for no-cost ISA CEU events.