When our mild Portland temperatures turn hot in late summer, a well-placed shade tree can significantly reduce the temperature of shaded homes and outdoor gathering areas. Shade trees cool by deflecting heat instead of absorbing it and by releasing water vapor from the undersides of their leaves. If you would like enjoy the benefits of more shade in your yard,... Read More
Our dry northwest summers motivate many urban gardeners to water their trees to excess. Overwatering is a common cause of urban tree decline. When excess water displaces oxygen in the root zone over long periods of saturation, the roots will suffocate and die. Determining the right amount of water, not too much or too little, for your established trees involves... Read More
The sunny, clear days of Oregon summers send us scampering for shade to protect our delicate skin from dangerous UV rays. Trees can be damaged by the sun too. The mature cherry tree seen above has a sealed sunburn wound. When the amount of direct sunlight the tree receives abruptly increases, the extra heat and radiation can damage the nutrient-exchanging... Read More
Summers in the Portland area are very dry. While the dry weather is often blissful for the waterlogged human residents who endured the past eight months of rainfall, our trees can suffer drought stress. Drought stress occurs when limited access to water interferes with the tree’s normal growth processes. Drought stress can limit root growth, limit tree growth due to... Read More
From the Portland area, a one hour drive will deliver you to the cool green oasis of the Oregon Garden. The Oregon Garden boasts 80 acres of meticulously planted themed botanical gardens connected by a series of meandering walking paths that invite visitors to stroll among the trees and plants that thrive here. On summer weekends, a narrated tram ride... Read More
Summer is fruit season in the Willamette Valley. We are known around the world for the variety and quality of the tree fruits that are grown here. What makes our tree fruit so spectacular? The winters are cold enough to ensure fruit set, the summers are warm enough to sweeten our fruits, and the long growing season extends the harvest.... Read More
Summers in the Portland area are dry with periods of soaring temperatures. Your carefully planted trees need a little extra care in summer as they become established. Newly planted trees require extra water for the first couple of summers in their new location to prevent drought stress and promote development of a healthy root system. We recommend twice weekly deep... Read More
Warm summer weather draws us outside for a stroll under the cool, shaded canopy of trees. The forested acres of Tryon Creek State Natural Area provide the perfect nearby respite from the heat. Once you enter the 658 forested, serene acres in southwest Portland, it is hard to believe that you are in the middle of a large city, mere... Read More
