by Jacoba Coes

During the dog days of this sweltering summer, I escaped to Brookdale Park to walk my dog and discovered that it was significantly cooler walking in the park than around town. I figured the park climate had to do with the number of trees we are so lucky to have.

A little research taught me that trees have cool powers. We’ve all taken cover under a tree for the shade but trees do even more to affect temperatures. Trees “transpire”. They absorb rainwater through their roots and then release it as vapor via the pores on their leaves, cooling the air. Areas with trees can be up to 10 degrees cooler than city streets.

WHAT ELSE DID I DISCOVER IN MY RESEARCH?

Trees remove fossil fuel emissions from our atmosphere - a 1/3 of worldwide emissions every year, in fact. This is known as carbon sequestration.

A roadside tree can reduce indoor pollution by 50%. Particulates land on the leaves and are absorbed by the tree along with the air they take in during the process of photosynthesis.

Trees can reduce home heating/cooling energy use by up to 25% according to the US Energy Department. In our region, strategically planting trees based upon the prevailing wind and the sun’s path can maximize the sun’s warming power in winter, provide cooling power in summer by shading, and help influence the impact of the wind.

And one of the coolest things about trees - studies show that the mere presence of trees in an urban environment appears to have a correlation to reducing aggression and violence.

For more tree awesomeness check out this comprehensive list from the Arbor Day Foundation

Newly inspired by how cool trees really are, I want to share a few ways we can help trees thrive.

Help get more trees planted. Brookdale Park Conservancy plants trees every year to replace those we lost to storms and to create new areas of beauty. This year we will plant 50 trees - your donations directly fund this program.
Advocate for more shade trees in your community. Zero in on the heat map to pinpoint opportunities.
Take care of newly planted trees - review how to care for your baby tree. A key take away - watering slowly and longer will let the goodness sink into the ground. If there is a newly planted shade tree near you, help to water it.
Support a healthy root system. This starts with exposing the root flare at the base of the trunk. It is part of the tree’s “lungs” and needs direct contact with the air to absorb oxygen. Burying the flare in soil or mulch suffocates the tree. Proper mulching is beneficial, but improper mulching is a tree killer.

This video of Roger Cook at This Old House teaches you all about mulching correctly. While you adjust your mulch, consider being a sustainable gardener and mulch with fallen leaves.

I hope these ideas take root and that you are inspired to help trees!

Family Activities:
Join our tree walk on October 10/5 at 10. We finish at 11:30. This is in partnership with Native Plant Society of NJ and will be led by Cam Kanterman. Meet in the Upper Level Parking (by the playground/track) and learn all about the glorious park trees. Rain date 10/6.

Volunteer at Brookdale Park. Learn about planting and caring for native plants, trees and our park. We have fun and are happy to work with volunteers of all ages, including for community service credit. Email info@brookdalepark.org to learn more.

Jacoba, a Brookdale Park Conservancy trustee, volunteers in the park throughout the year. Transitioning from a retail career, Jacoba now focuses on learning about horticultural therapy, gardening and contributing to the BPC Education and Outreach and Planting teams.