Tree panel, tour and pruning workshop reminder
Volunteers learning how to prune last autumn with the support of Montana Urban Community Forest Association.
As you know, the Montana Urban Community Forest Association is coming this week to conduct a pruning workshop. We are delighted to share that there are two more opportunities to learn more about Livingston's forestry program this week: Thursday and Friday. ISA credits are available for arborists.
Thursday, October 29 - 1:15-4:15 pm Livingston Urban Forestry Program, Tour, and Discussion. The tour will include visiting north side "tree deserts," the transfer station green compost program, Mike Webb Park and the relocated mature trees from Katie Bonnell Park, and the Cemetery full of mature poplar trees. You will learn how much the Parks Department does with such a small team.
Friday, October 30th - 8:30-10:30 am Community Volunteer Panel with Livingston Loves Trees, Climate Smart Missoula, Growing Friends of Helena, and Rooted in Cheyenne - Zoom link. Panel will address each group’s history, status of programs, financial support, future plans, and advice to other cities trying to form volunteer planting and pruning groups.
Reply to this email if you are interested in attending. Seats are limited for the tour or in-person panel. Don't forget to RSVP to the October 30th pruning workshop and review the Autumn watering tips below.
*Please note that we have received a DNRC grant to contract a professional Arborist to conduct essential pruning on all young trees and will be executing the work through spring next year. As always, if you plan to do your own pruning, or you have conducted pruning already, please let us know.
Pruning Workshop: Oct. 30th 1-4pm
Tree pruning season is nearly here! To prepare and continue to look after our urban forest, Livingston Loves Trees and the City of Livingston are hosting a hands-on tree pruning workshop for tree adopters and anyone interested in volunteering.
When: Friday, October 30th, 1-4pm
Where: Lincoln School, 215 East Lewis Street. A demonstration kicks off at 1pm, but feel free to arrive when you can.
Register: RSVP required, sign up here.
Bring (if you have): Trimmers, an orange safety vest, gloves, and water.
The workshop is taught by tree expert, enthusiast, and arborist Patrick Plantenberg, Chair of the Montana Urban Community Forestry Association (MUCFA). This is the third year we are hosting the pruning course and we developed the handy pruning handbook below. You'll learn proper pruning techniques tailored to the trees found here in Livingston, receive an official Pruning Certificate, and connect with other tree lovers.
The first few years are the most critical time to prune. It ensures trees grow up strong and healthy while reducing future maintenance costs. No previous experience is necessary, and young tree pruning can be done by almost anyone with some basic training.
What you'll learn:
How and When to Prune: The correct techniques and best timing for pruning young trees in our local climate.
Establishing a Strong Leader: A key skill for developing a structurally sound tree that can withstand Montana's weather.
Protecting Trees from Blight: How to identify and prevent common diseases like fire blight, especially in chokecherry and crabapples.
Raising Branches: Boulevard trees need their branches raised through pruning over time to meet City specifications and protect both the tree and people.
Let us know if you plan to prune or have pruned your tree yourself.
Pruning a young maple tree.
Autumn Care Reminders
Watering: Continue watering weekly until the ground freezes, even if the leaves have dropped. Once leaves have fallen, you can cut watering back to 1-2 times per month. Water when air temperatures are above 40°F and there is no snow cover on the ground. A well-hydrated tree heading into winter is healthier and more resilient. Once the ground freezes and stays that way, your tree goes dormant and won't need regular watering until spring.
Deer: Inspect the trunk for signs of deer and put on a deer guard to protect the bark.
2024 Adopters: T-posts are ready to be pulled, and a tree bud will come around with a tool to remove them. Tree tags will be left on trees to help us identify them.
As always we encourage you to share your tree photos, updates, or resources you have found helpful along your tree journey.
Livingston Loves Trees baby maple trees showing off their colors
Watering Guidelines
Your tree needs 10 gallons of water per inch of trunk diameter per week.
Rain does not penetrate deep enough to establish roots, so ignore it. The best time to water your tree is in the morning or evening, when there’s minimal evaporation.
How do you know how long to water your tree with a hose?
Time how long it takes for your hose to fill a 5 gallon bucket while on low flow. Then you can leave your hose running at the base of your tree for however long it takes to reach the desired amount of water for your tree based on its diameter. This time will vary from person to person, and what works for your neighbor's tree might not be adequate for your tree.
Don’t have time to water, or planning on leaving town?
If you’re unable to regularly meet your tree's watering needs, ask a friend or set a backup! Consider asking a neighbor to water your tree, or investing in a slow-release watering bag. A 20 gal. reusable tree watering bags range from $15-25 and can be found at local hardware and landscape stores, or online. Just one week without water can be very harmful to your tree, especially in the summer heat.
Visit our Livingston Loves Trees Resource Library for more guides and tips on tree maintenance.
