The Wars of the Roses!

To keep or not to keep? That is the question!

As more and more people convert their yards into a sustainable landscape, some are torn by their love of their favorites – such as hybrid roses – that are not “low” water- use plants. This doesn’t have to be a war of the roses!

The answer is to hydrozone your plants.

Hydrozoning is the practice of grouping plants by their similar water and sun needs.  By grouping plants into zones, it helps in your overall maintenance—watering appropriately, ensuring healthy plants, and allowing you to keep your more “moderate” or “high” water-use plants.… Read more >>

Heather Morris on her TreePeople Experience!

It was such a pleasant surprise to volunteer for Tree People. I’ve always been passionate in caring for our Earth and sustainability, and after Tree People reached out to see if I’d get involved, there was no hesitation to lend a hand.

Everything was provided for us when we got there; the only hard thing you have to do is decide on what you want to name your little sapling (ours varied between Some Disney characters and our own family member names).… Read more >>

Going Above, Recycling, and Beyond!

I am excited to share a quick brag about this past weekend’s GE Recycling & Beyond workshop. On February 2, 2019, despite the pouring rain and the recent LAUSD strike, we welcomed 13 teachers and students onto the campus of Parras Middle School in Redondo Beach to learn about campus waste reduction projects. Participants were led through a series of waste reduction activities, presentations, and a demonstration of the Parras MS campus waste system, given by the school’s very own Green Team.… Read more >>

Keep Your Tools Clean = Keep Your Plants Healthy!

If you like to trim in your garden, there is nothing like a new pair of pruners when cutting flowers and pruning trees and shrubs.  They are so clean, sharp, and cut like butter!

Oftentimes we don’t take care of our gardening tools—letting them get rusty, dull, and clogged with sap and sawdust, making you and your plants unhappy.  It comes as no surprise to find that one of the most popular topics at our Sustainable Landscape Maintenance workshops are the guidelines and demonstration on how to clean and maintain your garden tools.… Read more >>

Andy Lipkis’ Love for Trees Still Grows!

Valentine’s day is around the corner, which means love is in the air. Andy Lipkis, the Founder of TreePeople, loves his family, his friends, and, of course, trees. As “Los Angeles’ Professional Lorax,” he considers every single tree lovable and worth fighting for.

His love for the environment began in the early ’70s when, on a camping trip, he took the issue of dying forests into his own teenage hands. Since then, he’s been an activist and champion for the environment.… Read more >>

TreePeople at Kadima Day School for Tu BiShvat!

On January 17, 2019, TreePeople worked with students from Kadima Day School in honor of the holiday Tu BiShvat, or “New Year of The Trees,” in Hebrew.

In support of the celebration, TreePeople worked with students to bring understanding to the steps that are involved in caring for struggling trees.

Here are some of the activities the students participated in:

Instant Expert Activity

This activity prompts students to read facts about the importance of trees in our urban environment and tree care.… Read more >>

City of San Fernando Goes Green with Calles Verdes Kickoff!

On Saturday, January 26, 2019, TreePeople, California State Coastal Conservancy, and the City of San Fernando joined to launch Calles Verdes: an initiative to green the city!

This initiative is a multi-benefit greening project that will engage thousands of community and youth members to transform San Fernando into a model City for climate resilience.

At least 750 trees will be planted to shade sundrenched streets and absorb harmful greenhouse gasses. Streets and parking lots will be redesigned and constructed with innovative features that will capture precious stormwater to bolster water supplies and reduce polluted runoff.… Read more >>

Never Leave a Stub Behind!

Never Leave a Stub Behind!

Seriously! Stubs- whether on a tree or shrub- should never be left when pruning.  Their unsightly appearance aside, they are potentially harmful to the plant, promising dead, diseased branch ends and/or sprouts of weakly-attached growth.

People heal, plants seal

When people are cut or injured, our bodies heal. We replace damaged cells with new cells. In contrast, when woody plants, such as trees and shrubs, are cut or injured, their cell tissues are permanently destroyed. Instead of creating new cells, they grow over the cut to seal it off, creating a protective barrier of wound wood to the outside and barrier walls to the inside – to compartmentalize the wounded area.… Read more >>

TWO Challenges for Students!

TreePeople and Generation Earth are hosting two challenges for Los Angeles County school students from grades 6-12: Recycle to Win and Streets to the Sea! 

Remember, YOU CAN JOIN EITHER AT ANY TIME as long as you finish your project(s) by March 1, 2019, so please get involved!

Recycle to Win is a battle of the schools to improve their campus recycling programs. All you have to do is collect and record recyclables for at least 2 weeks in a row!… Read more >>

TreePeople Youth Leadership All-Star: Emily!

We want to highlight one of TreePeople’s all-star youth leaders: Emily, an 11th-grade student from Clark Media Magnet who was recently awarded a Gold Scout Award. Emily contacted TreePeople for the first time in late June 2018 wanting to enroll in TreePeople’s Summer Tree Care Program and, after a phone meeting, we realized that Emily’s true goal was to spread awareness about the importance of tree care in urban environments!

Since then, Emily has attended and completed a TreePeople Volunteer Supervisor Training through our Forestry Department.… Read more >>