Preserve Midtown

In the carbon cycle, it’s not just about the individual tree-the entire forest plays a role. Leaves take in carbon dioxide, converting it to sugar, which is carbon-based. Some of the sugar is used immediately for energy, converted back to CO2, and released into the atmosphere. The rest is stored in living wood or dead matter, such as fallen leaves and branches. Old-growth forests, in particular, store vast amounts of carbon while continuing to absorb CO2.

See a full color chart of how a tree works in our environment and learn about their value to the balance of our planet.

Go to:  http://www.onearth.org/article/the-carbon-exchange

Please visit our new link to the Tulsa Master Gardeners website, http://www.tulsamastergardeners.org or click on their tab under “Local Websites” on our opening page.  This is a  new area with many resources to learn how to treat your damaged trees following our latest ice storm.  You can find many solutions to your current tree problems and how to save our very important tree canopy that qualifies Tulsa as a beautiful city!  We all must work together to save our survivor trees!

As we slowly emerge from the horrors of the ice storm that seriously damaged so many of Tulsa’s trees, it is time to look forward to Spring!

First, homeowners should hire a qualified arborist to trim off torn and damaged branches from their surviving trees as soon as they can.  This will minimize further destruction to the trees that have survived the Ice’s wrath.

In the Spring as the new growth begins, we can celebrate the Survivors!  We can attach a label or tree tag to show the type of tree and approximate age (if known) to the remaining trees.  This will help Tulsan’s identify which trees are the hardiest and choose these kinds to replace the trees that didn’t survive.

Trees tags can be made by using 2″ slices from the downed limbs of about 8-10 inches in diameter.  Seal both sides of the new tag with an application of clear sealer and drill a hole at the top.  Paint the tree type with its approximate age on the tag and seal with another coat of sealer.  You should use a cord, rope or plastic tape threaded through the hole and then hung aroung the tree trunk.  It will look like a medal similar to ones an athletic champion would hang around their neck when they win.  These surviving trees are our champions!

We would like for any Scout troops in Tulsa, youth groups or other interested citizens who would like to help with this worthwhile community service project to contact 749-2898.  Help us commemorate Tulsa’s historic ice storm in a possitive way.

Let’s all see who are our Tree Champions of 2007!

When you fly into Tulsa you see our city as an island of trees in a sea of rolling farmland.  Tulsa’s trees grow large where there is a deep topsoil in this area that allows roots to grow deep providing plenty of nutrients and support for these magnificent natural specimens.  A tree’s roots grow as wide and deep as the tree that we see above the ground.  To the west of Tulsa there is only a very thin layer of topsoil on the bedrock and consequently scrub oaks are the most common tree cover with small pockets of a few taller trees.

Tulsa’s tall trees help break up the strong winds that come “roaring down the Plains.”  They help protect Our City.  They are a natural treasure and we, in turn, must protect that treasure!

Author: Valerie VonHarztisch

 Well, not only has Christmas come and gone, but also the worst ice storm in the history of Oklahoma!

If your neighborhood was like mine, you woke up Sunday evening/Monday morning to hear trees breaking off and crashing to the ground but you were unable to see them in the dark. It was truly something I never want to experience again.

Our remaining trees in midtown are now more important to us than ever. Tree conservation is a primary focus of Preserve Midtown. Infill development typically scrapes the majority of the existing trees off of a lot to facilitate building. Loss of trees means loss of the tree canopy and increased water run-off.

If your PreserveMidtown sign was crushed in the storm, please  request a new sign.  Just click on “Contact Us” button.  We will attach a free bumper sticker for your car!

Thank you and look for upcoming information about the city council elections!  We need to ensure that we, the resident property owners are effectively represented.

P.S. Don’t forget to sign the petition. We are very close to our 1,000 signatures. Yours might be the one that puts us over the top.

Tree issues article text.