photos by Brenda London
Susannah Burley orchestrated a collaborative effort that resulted in 50 trees being planted in Mid-City on November 5, 2016
SOUL and partners planted 50 trees on November 5 thanks to the generosity of Parkway Bakery & Tavern and other local sponsors. Many volunteers came out to help plant trees from 9am-noon on Saturday, November 5.
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If you are interested in contributing to our next Mid-City tree planting, please donate at https://soulnola.org.
Thanks to the Mid-City, Faubourg St. John and Parkview Neighborhood Associations for coming together to make this happen!
Warmest regards,
Susannah Burley, Founder & Director
SOUL | Sustaining Our Urban Landscape
504 616 6888
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The city of Baltimore’s high crime rate inspired a gritty TV drama. But a new study (Tinyurl.com/TreeCrimeReport) by the University of Vermont’s Transportation Research Center, in Burlington, found that a 10 percent increase in trees in a given area led to a 12 percent decrease in crime. “It’s really pretty striking how strong this relationship is,” says Austin Troy, lead author of the study, published in the journal Landscape and Urban Planning.
Researchers examined the correlation in and around Baltimore using aggregated crime data and combining it with high-resolution satellite images to conduct the analysis. The working hypothesis is that because people enjoy spending time in pleasant outdoor spaces, there are more observers present to hinder criminal activity. Also, a well-maintained landscape seems to send a message that someone may be watching.
To avoid culture bias, the study considered many socioeconomic factors, including housing, age, income and race of residents, as well as variables such as rural versus city setting and population density. The findings should prove helpful to urban planners.
Fringetrees are excellent anywhere that a very small tree is needed, such as near a patio, in small yards, or under power lines. Like many white-flowered plants, they look especially nice planted in front of a dark backdrop. They can be used as individual specimens, in groups, in mixed shrub borders or in natural gardens. They are well suited to urban plantings due to pollution tolerance and adaptability to varied soils. Fringetrees are not salt tolerant.
Although fringetrees are adaptable and will grow in most soil types, they prefer moist, deep, well-drained, acidic soils. They grow well in full sun to partial shade. Leaf appearance is best in some shade, but flowering is heaviest in full sun. The ideal compromise would be sun through most of the day, but shade during hot afternoon hours. Fringetrees have low maintenance needs once established.
Due to a naturally strong branch structure fringetrees rarely need pruning. Pruning while young may be desirable if a single stem tree form is preferred. Fringetrees do not transplant well so take care to choose an appropriate permanent location and use proper planting methods. Plant it high, it won’t die!
Plant it Low, It Won’t Grow | Plant it High, It Won’t Die
The most important consideration in planting trees and shrubs is the planting depth. Don’t plant too deep!
Plant all trees and shrubs about one inch above the surface of the existing soil. No dirt should be placed on top of the existing roots and nursery soil so as to not smother the root system. Mulch well, leaving a two inch gap around the caliper(s) of the plant.
For the most efficient use of water, construct an earthen berm two to three inches high around the drip zone area of the plant after planting. Water in well after planting!
TREES TO PLANT IN NEW ORLEANS
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MISSION | Sustaining Our Urban Landscape, SOUL, is dedicated to driving a resilient and equitable New Orleans through improving its water and food systems.
WATER SYSTEMS | SOUL is dedicated to mitigating New Orleans’ stormwater problems through replanting our urban forest and implementing green infrastructure. Just as grey infrastructure, such as canals and bridges, only function well when implemented as a large scale system, green infrastructure, including trees, only works properly when executed as a large scale system.
In working toward this goal, SOUL is partnering closely with community based organizations in outfitting neighborhoods with urban forests and green infrastructure.
Stay tuned for updates! Exciting progress is in the works.
FOOD SYSTEMS | Improving our local food system means that more people will have access to fresh healthy food, more jobs will be created, and more urban greenspace will be populated by beautiful and productive urban farms.
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