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Welcome, City Forest Resident! Do you have a large property considered to be 4 acres or more?
This track is designed to accommodate large properties specifically. Goals are selected for their ability to best support trees when practiced on a large scale and for the ease of checking on a large property.
Here are some instructions for using these resources
All program goals are listed in the below table of categories
Click on any goal below and it will take you to the informational video and instructions to help you meet that goal
Afterwards you can click the "return to the table of contents" button to return to this list
TABLE OF CONTENTS
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Trees & The Environment
Trees & The Environment
Compost (1 acorn)
Compost (1 acorn)
The Tree Connection: Decaying organic matters from dead wood and leaves are the building blocks of healthy soil in a forest. The types of organic matter from our kitchens and yards (food, leaves, grass clippings, limbs, etc.) can all break down into an organically rich soil component called compost. Consider composting these organic materials at home or through a compost service, in turn, supporting trees, plants, and gardens.
Take Action: Upon taking this action, you commit to composting your food waste to earn 1 acorn! To get you started, we provide this video below where you hear from Kat Nigro, Vice President of Experience at Compost Now on the importance and impact of composting. For more information, check out the following material for compost options including using compost now or choosing to compost at home. Plus for money and labor-free option, a list of locations you can drop off compost around Atlanta.
Reduce impervious (1-2 acorns)
Reduce impervious (1-2 acorns)
Acorns: 1 acorn (up to 2 acorns if you remove any impervious surfaces)
The Tree Connection: Trees and vegetation are efficient water-capture and filtering systems. Trees slow rainwater as the drops make their way through leaf foliage while their root systems are at work soaking up moisture from the soil and transmitting it back into the air through a process called transpiration. Vegetation slows rainwater as it flows across the earth’s surface, filtering out sediments and pollutants. Paved surfaces prevent water from soaking into the soil and reaching tree roots, contributiong to increased sediment and pollutants in our rivers and oceans. Any reduction in impervious surface helps hold more moisture in the soil and clean our rivers!
Take Action: To meet this goal, the existing impervious area of the property cannot exceed an estimate of 1/2 or 50% of the total property (this includes all buildings, structures, concrete, asphalt, and other impervious paving). If you exceed 50% of the property with impervious surfaces, you must remove some and replace them with greenspace OR permeable products. Additionally, all properties seeking this goal must agree to select permeable products such as permeable concrete or aggregate when replacing or installing new impervious surfaces, which earns you 1 acorn. Any amount of impervious removal earns you a total of 2 acorns. Start by checking out this video that explains impervious surfaces and paving alternatives. Afterward, check out this how-to pdf resource for how to remove paving and select permeable materials.
Trees & People
Trees & People
Awareness (2 acorns)
Awareness (2 acorns)
Acorns: 2 acorns
The Tree Connection: The landscape of your property will begin to look different as you go through this process. Inform users of the property about this process through signage. Signage helps to inform users about the environmental success and their connection to trees on the property.
Take Action: Post signage explaining what is going on for at least 3 landscape goals you reach, keep the signs posted for the full one year, and earn 2 acorns! Start by checking out this video by Sabrina, Youth Education Coordinator, at Trees Atlanta. Sabrina discusses how and why educational signage is useful to educators. Afterward, check out this informational pdf for signage in each category.
Trees & Plants
Trees & Plants
Reduce the lawn (2 acorns)
Reduce the lawn (2 acorns)
Acorns: 2 acorns
The Tree Connection: Lawns are resource-intensive, contribute to greenhouse gas emissions, and they compete with the resources our trees need. Repetitive mowing can increase soil loss and harm tree root zones. Consider reducing the lawn to only the portion used for regular gathering and playing by converting the edges of the lawn into planting beds for trees, shrubs, and plants.
Take Action: Reduce the size of the lawn to be roughly 25% or less of the total outdoor area and earn 2 acorns! The total outdoor area (aka yard) means the part of the yard that does not include buildings. Start by checking out this video by Tobias Landberg, Director of Research at the Amphibian Foundation. Tobias discusses why reducing lawns is beneficial for our neighborhood amphibians. Afterward, check out this how-to pdf resource for how to reduce the lawn and a list of excellent plants to incorporate.
Canopy cover (4 acorns)
Canopy cover (4 acorns)
Acorns: 4 acorns
The Tree Connection: Trees provide us with cleaner air, cast ample shade (reducing temperature), act as a conduit for wildlife (like birds), slow and filter stormwater, and are aesthetically pleasing. There are many different types of trees you can consider planting (or preserving) in the landscape.
Take Action: Add or maintain trees to meet 60% canopy cover on the property for a total of 4 acorns. 60% means about 2/3 of the property will be under leaf foliage once the trees are mature. Start by checking out this video by Cate Hughes, Neighborwoods Manager at Trees Atlanta. Cate gets you started on your journey to add trees to the landscape. Afterward, check out the instructions below for estimating your tree canopy cover and learn how to get a free front yard tree!
Herbicides/Fertilizers (1 acorn)
Herbicides/Fertilizers (1 acorn)
Acorns: 1 acorn
The Tree Connection: Herbicides and fertilizers are all too common landscaping tools. While herbicides are sometimes useful to treat extremely noxious plants as part of a restoration project, routine use in the landscape can have unintended consequences harming nearby trees and aquatic life. These herbicides can decrease the plant diversity in our landscapes and lower the health of the soil, harming our trees and gardens. Fertilizers are useful for establishing bright green lawns but we are often unaware of the damages an overly green lawn can cause. Many insects, such as fireflies, spend most of their life in the soil as larvae. Studies show that even common fertilizers, such as urea fertilizer (found in Miracle Grow ™ ), ammonium sulfate (found in most turf fertilizer mixtures), and potassium chloride (potash) cause up to 73% firefly larva mortality within 72 hours after exposure. (EPA, n.d.) (EPA, n.d.) (Lee, 2008)
Take Action: Avoid using broad spread herbicides and lawn fertilizers in your maintenance plan and earn 1 acorn. Herbicides used as part of a targeted short-term management plan for one of the plants on our “remove invasive plants” goal are exempt. Start by checking out this video from Mike McCord from Community Foodscapes. Mike discusses why reducing herbicides and fertilizers is beneficial. Afterward, check out the below instructions for lawn maintenance alternatives.
Care for existing trees (1 acorn)
Care for existing trees (1 acorn)
Acorns: 1 acorn
The Tree Connection: Are there large trees on the property that need care? For tree pruning services only hire ISA arborists and, under their recommendations, opt for tree pruning rather than removal of non-hazardous trees. Care for mature trees by making sure all the non-native vines such as English ivy, wisteria, and kudzu are removed, protect the root zones through mulching, and avoid mowing or weed whacking near the trunk.
Take Action: Perform advanced care on the property’s existing trees annually such as non-native vine removal, proper mulching in the root zone, and only when required, hire only ISA certified arborist for pruning, tree treatment, and advanced tree care needs to earn 1 acorn. If safe and practical, consider leaving snags to support wildlife (see the “provide cover” goal). Start by checking out this video with some tree care tips from Georgia Arborist Association. Afterward, check out instructions for required tree care.
Remove invasive plants (2 acorns)
Remove invasive plants (2 acorns)
Acorns: 2 acorns
The Tree Connection: Some introduced non-native plants can choke out native vegetation, do not support wildlife the same way as native plants, and can even kill trees and are known as invasive plants. Not all non-native plants pose problems, but plants on this list of invasive species for the Atlanta area should be removed from the landscape to meet this goal. Check out the list and the best way to remove them here.
Take Action: Remove all of the plants on the provided list from the property and earn 2 acorns! If you keep any of these plants, minus 1 acorn. Afterwards, check out the below instructions for the list of invasive plants along with removal tips.
Leave the leaves (1 acorn)
Leave the leaves (1 acorn)
Acorns: 1 acorn
The Tree Connection: Fallen leaves are a free compost! They break down into rich organic matter and are an important mulch that helps to lock in moisture. As these leaves break down, they return nutrients to the soil, provide food for healthy soil microbes, and increase moisture availability in tree root zones. Consider reusing the leaves as mulch instead of bagging and placing them on the curb.
Take Action: Stop bagging 90% of the leaf litter for 1 year (it is ok to bag up a little, but reuse the bulk of it) and earn 1 acorn! Start by checking out this video by Zoo Atlanta. The zoo highlights different ways they utilize leaves in their landscape. Afterward, check out the below instructions for ideas on how to reuse leaf litter.
Reduce mowing (1 acorn)
Reduce mowing (1 acorn)
Acorns: 1 acorn
The Tree Connection: Mowing a lawn is resource-intensive, contributes to greenhouse gas emissions, increases soil loss, harms tree root zones, and is often done in excess. Save some time and improve soil health by mowing the lawn less frequently.
Take Action: Reduce the lawn mowing frequency to no more than once every 2 weeks for 1 year and earn 1 acorn! Start by checking out this video by Albert Wessinger at Community Foodscapes. Albert discusses the benefits of lawn alternatives that thrive with less mowing. Afterward, check out these instructions for how to grow a low-maintenance lawn.
Trees & Animals
Trees & Animals
No mosquito spraying (1 acorn or MINUS 1 acorn)
No mosquito spraying (1 acorn or MINUS 1 acorn)
Acorns: 1 acorn
The Tree Connection: While some trees such as oaks are pollinated by wind, most trees need the help of insects and birds to fruit. Some of Atlanta’s most common trees such as cherries, plums, persimmons, linden, paw paw, maples, sweetgum, serviceberry, and black gum all need insects for pollination. While mosquitos are uncomfortable and can carry diseases (all important things to avoid), spraying for mosquitos harms other pollinators and even friendly amphibians such as salamanders! Give alternative mosquito control a try and stop spraying. Consider trying these other less harmful ways to control your mosquito population.
Take Action: Do not spray for mosquitoes for 1 year and earn 1 acorn. If you are spraying, minus 1 acorn. Start by checking out this video by Peter Helfrich, Chair at Bee City USA in Decatur, Georgia. Peter discusses alternative mosquito control methods. Afterward, check out these instructions to understand the type of mosquitoes that might be present at the property and tips for reducing mosquitoes and preventing mosquito bites.
Bird-safe glass (2 acorns)
Bird-safe glass (2 acorns)
Acorns: 2 acorns
The Tree Connection: Did you know that birds help pollinate and spread the seeds of trees, especially fruiting trees? Glass collisions kill up to 1 billion birds in the U.S. each year, and almost half happen at home windows. Tree reflections in windows can also be confusing for birds, but using bird-safe glass or quick fixes like window paint, bird tape, and decals are great solutions at home. Consider employing one of these techniques to keep our trees happy and birds safe.
Take Action: Employ a bird-safe glass technique on your windows and earn 2 acorns. Start by checking out this video by Adam, Director of Conservation at Birds Georgia. Adam discusses bird-safe glass. Afterward, check out these instructions for how to get window decals or make your own.
Reduce outdoor lights (1 acorn)
Reduce outdoor lights (1 acorn)
Acorns: 1 acorn
The Tree Connection: Artificial nighttime lights are useful in many situations, however much of this light is overused and wasted to an extent that 99% of the United States population can no longer see the milky way. Artificial nighttime lights can affect our ecosystem in many ways such as increased bird-window collisions and reducing firefly populations as fireflies use light to signal each other. Additionally, this increase in artificial nighttime light, or light pollution as they call it, confuses some trees which fail to become dormant and continue to grow under artificial nighttime light. The continued growth leads to water stress and reduced tree health. Consider turning off unneeded artificial nighttime lights.
Take Action: To earn 1 acorn you must follow the Light Reduction Plan for responsible outdoor lighting and participate in Birds Georgia’s Lights Out Georgia program. These principles ensure you are only using useful light, using targeted light, using low-level light, using light only while needed, appropriate light colors, and turning off lights during bird migration. Start by checking out this video by Prashant Naik, IDA Delegate at International Dark-Sky Association. Prashant discusses how to reduce nighttime light. Afterward, check out these instructional steps of reducing the use of artificial light at night.
Pollinator meadow (2 acorns)
Pollinator meadow (2 acorns)
Acorns: 2 acorns
The Tree Connection: Nearly 70% of all plants depend on pollinators to reproduce but did you also know that many of our pollinators are specialist insects that need specific native plants to grow into maturity? This includes many trees such as hawthorn, cherry, plum, persimmon, linden, paw paw, maple, sweetgum, serviceberry, and black gum! Trees cannot provide everything these pollinators need at all life stages and they need native grasses and perennials for food sources. Consider bringing these beautiful butterflies to the property and converting part of the landscape into a pollinator meadow, in turn supporting pollination services for our city’s trees!
Take Action: Convert a 100’ x 100’ patch (approximately 10,000 square feet) of the landscape into a pollinator meadow and earn 2 acorns. Start by checking out this video by Frank Welsh, BeltLine Arboretum Supervisor at Trees Atlanta. Frank discusses how to make a meadow. Afterward, check out these instructions for making am meadow and this and a list of plants plus resources for plant sources and panting instructions.
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