THE BROADWAY Its overlapping canopy of tall, arched tree limbs, which cools and shades your drive, defines it. As you travel through the living tunnel they make in the shadows, they envelop you in class. The names of so many streets are derived from once magnificent street trees like elms, maples, oaks, and sycamores. Whole neighborhoods stand out from the rest because of the charm of the street tree! A well-known tree variety planted nearby can be linked to entire towns!
However, the space set aside for the once-powerful street tree has absolutely nothing due to the necessity for wider streets, increased traffic, and access to on-street parking! Long after the original namesakes of Maple Avenue, Elm Drive, and Linden Street were lost to storms, bug infestations, or rapid population development, these streets now go by those names.
The development of street trees, the demand for parks, tree planting, and urban beautification all occurred in the late 1800s. Streetside plantings, shade, aesthetic appeal, and all the other advantages that a few trees may bring to your entire area now benefit properties of all sizes.
Diversity is the secret to all new urban street tree plantings! The days of planting the same type of tree along every street are long gone. Because different trees won’t be impacted in a row, an attractive, diverse urban forest will be better able to withstand insect and disease pressure.
With every tree you and your neighbors plant, the value of your home will increase! Not only great at lowering cooling costs, but they also raise the home’s market value! Everybody tries to keep up with the Joneses in some way. It’s incredible the ripple effect planting one or two trees in your yard has on the entire neighborhood, even while we don’t want you to get all your neighbors together and plant the same tree to achieve the same effect! Everyone on the block will benefit from having trees, even if they are just on your property.
These live air conditioners calm the mind, body, and soul while enhancing air quality and lowering pollutants. These biological air filters may reduce pollutants, carbon dioxide, and purify the air organically. When surrounded by these substantial green branches, you’ll be more likely to slow down, inhale deeply, and relax. Blood pressure and heart rate both considerably decrease. Visit our garden blog to learn more about gardening’s numerous health benefits.
Walking the dog and riding a bike through streets lined with trees is more pleasant. People are more likely to be active in cooler, oxygen-rich areas. Cortisol levels, anxiety, and depression all decrease when you’re among plants and trees. Trees are an excellent method to improve your and future generations’ health on many levels, including mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.
A street with trees also has a direct impact on traffic and the drivers themselves! The trees cool hotheads as well as the streets, slowing down traffic in the process. Many traffic studies have shown the soothing effect, as well as how it affects our mental health.
For a true traffic-slowing impact, try planting a tree in your neighborhood that blooms spectacularly or is uncommon and has never been seen before.
Flooding and erosion are reduced when water is slowed as it pours over ground and pavement. We don’t want waste, chemicals, and other items to end up in our groundwater because of all the water that dumps into the sewers and drains. clogging utilities and drains with trash. Trees filter and sequester the water before it enters the ground or a drainage system, which helps minimize erosion and slows down rain and water runoff. A few trees are an excellent way to manage water naturally.
Trees provide shade, reduce air temperature, and release water vapor into the atmosphere. Discover more about trees’ cooling effects in our garden blog!
Because there are less lawns and trees in urban regions and more concrete, brick, and asphalt, which absorb sunlight and retain heat longer while dissipating it after the sun has set, urban areas are always hotter than rural ones.
High levels of drought tolerance, urban environment adaptability, and resistance to pollutants, compacted soil, road salt, and utilities are requirements for street trees.
Consider your tree’s mature height and width as well as the predicted size of the canopy at that time. Choose a tree for your growth zone, taking into account its needs for water, sunlight (buildings and skyscrapers block a lot of it), soil type, and disease and pest resistance.
Urban trees must also deal with things like extremely constrained sidewalks and streets, fruit and nut droppings that can be messy, color the ground, pose a safety threat (rolled ankles on a walnut are not pleasant! ), or even harm vehicles that must park underneath them.
Select vegetation with a smaller rootprint. and won’t mind the neighboring hot ground or pavement, won’t harm the sidewalks or asphalt, and can withstand the acidic conditions brought on by concrete’s evaporation into the earth.
Tree cages and grates may preserve tree roots and improve the appearance of city tree plantings, but they have a limit on the size that your tree may grow to. Poor soil and smaller root systems naturally slow down plant growth. Because they require less pruning on both the sidewalk side and the street side so the trucks do not pull off the limbs, columnar trees have grown in popularity.
Instead of spending hundreds of dollars on pruning to keep a giant tree modest, consider plants that adapt to their environment and stay smaller. Instead, pick:
Planting trees alongside the road has the unavoidable side effect of protecting against winter ice and snow, protecting against car exhaust, and generally reducing urban pollution. As a result, it is important to choose trees that can thrive in this kind of environment.
It’s better to stay away from trees with this kind of roots that could damage concrete and sidewalks unless you have a large area and require them to contain soil and stop erosion, on a slope, or in very shallow ground. In confined spaces between a road, sidewalk, and driveway, choosing trees with strong roots that don’t spread out and disturb the surrounding soil is the best option.
The fate of the Elm tree serves as a reminder of the need of selecting insect-resistant and species with more biological diversity when installing street trees. Fast-growing elms were once among the most widely used street trees. In just a few years, the Dutch Elm disease nearly wiped out the whole native species, leaving behind only stumps and deserted streets.
You may prevent this anguish for yourself and future generations by choosing cultivars that are disease- and pest-resistant.
The supply of food and shelter for animals, pollinators, and birds will grow thanks to biodiversity and the avoidance of bulk plantings of one particular tree variety!
Avoid planting trees that can reach a height or width of more than 30 feet, especially if there are power lines above.
The next stage to guaranteeing your tree’s survival in these demanding conditions is adequate care and maintenance. This is after making sure that all the boxes for your tree’s sun, moisture, and size needs are checked.
Making ensuring your new trees are not buried too deeply in the earth is crucial.
To ensure that your newly planted trees have a strong foundation, water them carefully for the first full season. Then, water them regularly during periods of high heat and drought. If planting required staking to keep the plant upright, make careful to remove that stake as soon as it becomes established or by the end of the first year because trees become more mobile in the wind when the stake is removed and grow stronger as a result.
So start some tree planting and watch your neighbors do the same! Then, in a few years, you’ll be able to purchase a dog leash, a baby stroller, and a parasol to give you the impression that you’re strolling down your own tree-lined avenue under the cool shade of your own doing!
Are any trees poisonous to dogs?
Mayapple, Indian Apple Root, Umbrella Leaf, Wild Lemon, Hog Apple, Duck’s Foot, and Raccoonberry are other names for American Mandrake. Yew American (also known as Canada Yew, Canadian Yew) Apple (including crabapples; stem, leaves and seeds contain cyanide, but the fruit is okay for dogs)
What trees may pets safely climb?
Outdoor Trees and Plants for a Pet-Friendly Yard
- large hickory with shellbark.
- sour pecan (common name: water hickory)
- palming a bottle
- the carob tree
- leafy fig palm
- the hemlock tree
- Metal tree (common names: Maui sunset, flame of the woods)
- Aralia from Japan.
What evergreens are safe for dogs to consume?
Using the Picture Gallery
- Mountain mahogany that is smooth. Species of Cercocarpus montanus glaber.
- pine ponderosa. Ponderosa pine.
- live oak in California. agrifoliated Quercus.
- Laurel of California. Umbellularia caerulea
- Fan palm from California. a Washingtonia species.
Which trees are safe from poison?
Non-Toxic
- Acacia.
- Apple (Pesticide residue likely)
- Heaven’s Tree, the ailanthus.
- Almond.
- Aralia/Japanese fatsia
- AshFraxinus.
- AspenPopulus.
- Bamboo.
Are dogs poisoned by maple trees?
The eastern United States and Canada are home to red maple trees, which are not wholly harmful to animals. The red maple tree’s leaves are what make them deadly. In particular, the leaves must be wilted or desiccated, like those on a broken limb during a strong windstorm. Both the autumn-falling dead leaves and the leaves on a living tree are safe.
Clinical symptoms often appear between 12 and 48 hours after intake. Death could happen 3-6 days after consumption. Depression, exhaustion, an inability to eat, stomach pain, a slower heartbeat, breathing difficulties, a fever, and darkened mucous membranes are all indicators of poisoning.
Consumption of toxins: Since there is no established minimum threshold for toxicity, any possible consumption should be reported right away. In 60–65% of cases, death occurs.
Are dogs poisoned by oak trees?
Autumn is arrived! The time of year when people go out to collect apples and pumpkins, dress up for Halloween, and rake leaves into enormous piles. (And then, of course, diving into them!) Fall can undoubtedly be a joyful and exciting season for all people, including your dog. While you and your animal buddy enjoy the season, there are various risks to be aware of due to the variety of activities and agriculture. What to watch out for includes:
Acorns and Oak Leaves
The trees in your yard may be attractive and provide excellent shade, but if your dog eats their leaves or acorns, they could be harmful. Dog owners should make a habit of picking up dropped acorns or enclosing parts of the yard where they can be found since acorns provide a choking and intestinal blockage risk for dogs. Oak acorns and young oak leaves not only pose a choking risk, but they also contain a substance called gallotannin that can severely upset a dog’s digestive system and result in vomiting, lethargy, diarrhea, and damage to the liver and kidneys.
Along with oaks, dogs may also experience nausea, weakness, and depression if they swallow the leaves and bark of black locust trees, which are common in the Southeast of the United States. Additionally, red maple leaves should not be used around horses, as they are poisonous (although not to dogs and cats). Large doses of red maple leaves can induce severe hemolytic anemia in horses, which can manifest as shock, pale gums, weakness, and other symptoms.
Leaf Piles
While both people and pets enjoy playing in leaf heaps, they can also contain hidden risks. A variety of diseases are transferred by ticks, mites, and other parasites that can be found hiding among the leaves. Check your dog for bugs after each time he comes inside from the outdoors and make sure he is up to date on all of his tick and flea meds. For more information on how to protect your dog from these tiny dangers, see our previous posts on ticks and fleas. Additionally, leaf piles can serve as a haven for snakes, our next fall hazard.
Snakes
Snakes are moving around because of the early-pleasant fall’s weather. While out on a walk with your dog, keep an eye out for potential hiding spots for snakes. Make a point of studying what snakes are in your area, where they like to hide, and how to identify them. Some regions of the country are home to particularly venomous types of snakes.
Autumn Crocus
Not to be confused with the Iridaceae family of plants that bloom in the spring, the autumn crocus (Colchicum autumnale) contains an alkaloid called colchicine that is harmful to dogs. Ingesting this plant “can result in severe gastrointestinal symptoms (such as drooling, vomiting, gastrointestinal bleeding, bloody diarrhea, etc.), liver and kidney damage, respiratory failure, central nervous system symptoms (such as seizures), and even death,” according to the Pet Poison Helpline. To keep your dog away from them, look around your home to see if there are any, then draw up a perimeter around them. In order to prevent your dog from getting into these flowers and other dangerous plants in your yard, your local DogWatch Dealer can assist you in selecting the best hidden fence option.
Antifreeze
People frequently replace their antifreeze in the fall. Ethylene glycol, which is present in antifreeze, is sweet-tasting to dogs and cats but lethal to them if consumed in even small doses. Contact should therefore be avoided at all costs. When changing your antifreeze, keep your dog indoors and be careful to mop up any antifreeze puddles that may have formed. Keep an eye on your dog when he’s outside to be sure he isn’t drinking from puddles where antifreeze may have leached. If you suspect your dog has taken some antifreeze, be sure to be aware of the symptoms so you can get him to the doctor right away for emergency antidote therapy. Lethargy, increased thirst, behaving “drunk or uncoordinated,” and lethargy are all indications of antifreeze intoxication.
Compost Bins or Piles
Composting is a terrific way to help the environment, but your dogs may not appreciate the danger these piles provide. The decomposing stuff in them may contain tremorgenic mycotoxins, which can cause agitation, overheating, hyperresponsiveness, panting, drooling, and vomiting. If left untreated, these symptoms can lead to severe CNS problems like lack of coordination, tremors, and seizures. To prevent your dog from accessing your compost pile, we advise installing a DogWatch Hidden Fence system. Make sure to take your dog to the veterinarian right away if he DOES end up in the compost pile and starts exhibiting any of these symptoms.
Mushrooms
While many wonderful, edible wild mushrooms are in season now, there are also those that are poisonous and even hallucinogenic. Even while we can train ourselves to spot the differences, most dogs treat them all the same. Sadly, consuming wild mushrooms can cause serious health issues in dogs and possibly cause death. When Dwyane “The Rock Johnson revealed that his French bulldog pet Brutus died after eating a mushroom in his yard, canine mushroom toxicity made headlines in 2015. Due to the difficulty in distinguishing which mushrooms are toxic from those that are not, veterinarian Dr. Justine A. Lee advises taking your dog right away to the doctor if you notice him consuming ANY mushrooms. To ensure that the dog’s system is cleared of the mushrooms, your veterinarian will likely want to pump the dog’s stomach.
Rodenticides
It’s time to break out the rodenticides and mouse traps once the weather cools off since that’s when the rodents start coming inside. Rodenticides can be fatal to dogs, whether they are eaten directly or indirectly (for example, if your dog eats a mouse that has consumed rodenticides). Get your dog to the vet right away if you think it may have consumed rodenticides, and be careful to tell the vet exactly what chemicals you (or your neighbor) have been using. Naturally, there is a risk of harm from mousetraps if a curious dog sticks a paw inside. Restrict your pets’ access to any mouse or rat poison and traps, and keep them out of their reach. A DogWatch Indoor Boundary system is a reliable solution to keep your animals out of places like this that are unsafe.
Moth Balls
Be careful when putting away your summer clothing because dogs and cats can die from ingesting moth balls. A dog that has consumed mothballs may exhibit signs including vomiting, anemia, lethargy, and even kidney or liver damage; this animal has to be treated by a veterinarian very once. Modern mothballs, which include paradichlorobenzene (PDB), can still make pets unwell if consumed, while older mothballs containing naphthalene are thought to be the most dangerous.
Chocolate
Chocolate is everywhere now that Halloween and the holidays are coming. Although we may enjoy eating it, it is considered to be dangerous for dogs. Theobromine, a methylxanthine found in chocolate, is poisonous to dogs. Make sure your dog can’t get to the candy bowl and that any kids in the house understand not to give your dog any sweets. A 50 pound dog can become seriously ill with as little as one ounce of baking chocolate or eight ounces of milk chocolate. When a substantial amount of chocolate has been taken, a dog should be treated by a veterinarian right once since it can cause vomiting, elevated body temperature, tremors, seizures, and cardiac and respiratory failure in dogs.
We strongly advise you to get in touch with your veterinarian if you have any questions or concerns about a chemical your dog may have consumed.
Image credits (cropped versions): “fallen leaves by Jill Meinert (CC BY 2.0), mkisono’s crocus (CC BY 2.0), and kalle gustafsson’s mushrooms (CC BY 2.0) “Halloween Kit Kat Bars made by slgckgc (CC BY 2.0)
