Planting and growing urban trees focus of Saturday workshop

Collectively, humans get urban trees all wrong. They plant them too close to houses, or in tiny strips next to concrete, or tied forever to nursery stakes. They want tall trees instantly, for shade, not realizing that fast-growing trees also can be brittle. They complain about leaf litter. Or bird droppings from the local wildlife that nest there. Or that an older tree is now “blocking the view” and cut it down. Sheesh.

Among other benefits, trees naturally capture and lock up carbon dioxide through photosynthesis, but they're also victims of climate change-caused heat, wildfires and drought. Recent amendments to California’s Urban Forestry Act (which became law in 1978) aim to increase the tree canopy in the state. California also recently was granted nearly $102 million by the federal government to combat extreme heat and climate change, plant and maintain trees, and create urban green spaces.

It's no wonder the UCCE master gardeners of Placer County have dedicated this month’s free public workshop to trees. Their Urban Forestry workshop is scheduled for 10:30 to 11:30 a.m. this Saturday, Oct. 14, at the Loomis Library, 6050 Library Drive, Loomis.

“We will explore how gardeners can make this goal (of increasing the tree canopy) a reality," the master gardeners note. "Tree cover is vital in the built environment for shade, habitat, air quality and general well-being. We can have trees and eat our cake too!”