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Nature in the City - Austin
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The Texas Ebony Tree is a member of the legume family, displaying waxy green leaves that defy drought conditions and high temperatures with ease. Mature trees can reach heights of up to 30 feet or more, casting a broad spread of shade beneath their canopies. Blooming from late spring to summer, this tree showcases clusters of fragrant, yellow flowers that attract pollinators like bees and butterflies. In the fall, it produces dense, woody seed pods that contain several seeds, which play a crucial role in its propagation.

 

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Written by Keith Babberney | Forester | Community Tree Preservation Division | City of Austin 

In Austin, we love our trees, but we don’t always know the best way to show them our love. People often assume they should fertilize to improve tree health, but plants that are well adapted to Central Texas soils generally don’t need extra nutrients. This article will help you decide if you need to fertilize and what the best methods are to do it. 

What is fertilization?

Fertilization simply means adding material to soil (or sometimes directly to plants) that provides the elements plants need. Trees, like…

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Written by Keith Babberney | Forester | Community Tree Preservation Division | City of Austin 

Illustrations by Laura Jackson 

Drawing of a landscape showing the best placement of trees based on mature size.

 

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Hi, I’m Anish. I will be a senior at McNeil High School in the fall of 2023. After being a member of the 2022-2023 Youth Forest Council, I decided to continue as a fellow for the 2023-2024 Youth Forest Council. With the help of my mom, I developed a passion for gardening during quarantine for Covid. My position as a member of the Youth Forest Council and my interest in horticulture helped me choose my Community Action Project (CAP). For my CAP, I decided to plant native trees in parking lot medians and create a courtyard oasis for students with special needs. 

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In 2020, the City of Austin's Community Tree Preservation Division released the Community Tree Priority Map. This resource prioritization tool is for everyone to use including city programs, partners, policymakers, Urban Forest Grant applicants, arborists, and more. It provides access to relevant data comparable across Austin’s neighborhoods. For example, tree canopy data helps uncover disparities in historically under-canopied areas. This enables people to decide where activities like planting, tree care, and community outreach could occur around Austin. 

Developing the tool entailed consulting with many people, including arbo…

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Two women loosening roots before planting a tree.

Image 1 – 2017, Checking the Root Ball of a 5 gallon Tree 

An innovative approach to tree distribution

Did you know…

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Today’s sustainability spotlight is shining on Youth Forest Council Intern Cain Ly. For her Community Action Project, Cain engaged with teachers and students at Garza High School this past spring. She organized over 100 volunteers to participate in a series of tree plantings and the creation of a food forest on campus. 

 

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Urban Forest Grant logo

Did you know Austin residents can get funding for projects that care for trees in their neighborhoods? They can, through the City’s Urban Forest Grant!  

Applications are due January 1st and July 1st! 

Non-profits, neighborhood groups, schools, and other organizations are eligible to apply for a grant to fund tree projects…

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Trees have always been an important part of the character of Austin. We have special trees where we mark important historical events. We love to enjoy the pecans at Barton Springs on a sunny day. We will park half a mile from the store if we can leave our car under a shade tree while we shop. We cannot take our trees for granted. If we want to continue enjoying a healthy urban forest in coming decades, we need to start planning now. Climate forecasts predict significant changes in our average temperatures, rainfall, and major weather events. Our existing trees may struggle to adapt and survive in the new conditions.