Chair: Mike Conway

Members: Pat Flannery, Kathleen Laurin, Julie Ochs, Sally Soderlund, and Dr. Joe Daugherty

The Tree Board has the goal to plant 1,000 trees in Park Hills over the next three years to reforest our community. Trees not only make our city more beautiful; they also remove pollutants, reduce energy costs, and increase property values. We ask each homeowner to take advantage of the programs we offer and plant just one tree to help us build our beautiful tree canopy.

Upcoming Meetings:

The tree board meets at 6:30 PM every first Thursday of the month. Email the city clerk, [email protected], for meeting location details.

The Tree Board manages two annual programs: The Plant-a-Tree and seedling programs.

Plant-a-Tree Program: For a donation of $125, the City of Park Hills will plant a tree in your yard. The Tree Board reviews and approves applications on a first-come-first-serve basis.

CLICK HERE TO LEARN MORE AND APPLY FOR PLANT-A-TREE

Each spring, the Tree Board provides Park Hills residents with a variety of free seedlings from the Kentucky Department of Forestry. The City provides details on the city website, typically in March of each year.

Free seedlings were passed out in Trolley Park on Saturday, March 27th and some seedlings are still available now. Email your request to Dr. Daugherty at [email protected]. Here’s what’s available:

• Buttonbush
• Bald cypress
• Sycamore
• 2-year-old Southern red oak

Please click here to view the latest tree survey by the University of KY

Tree Board Spring Newsletter article

TREE CARE

We love our city because of our majestic trees.  What do we need to do to ensure our trees are healthy?  This Spring, please follow these simple steps to maintain the beauty of our tree canopy in Park Hills:

Cut any vines growing at the base of the tree.  Ivy and honeysuckle can literally suck the life out of a tree.  Cut and remove any vines growing at the base of your tree in two places OR remove at least two inches where you make your cut, as the vines can grow back together.  Vines provide niches and ecosystems for destructive insects.  Trust us, get rid of the vines!  Your tree will thank you for years and years to come.

1. Properly water. Just like any other plant, you need to water trees! If it hasn’t rained for several weeks, check to see if your tree needs a drink. Usually, mature trees need one inch of water a week. New trees require somewhere between 4 to 10 gallons each week during the first growing season or two.
2. Mulch. Mulch insulates tree roots, protects them from lawn mower cuts, and helps prevent dry soil. Help your tree reap these benefits by removing grass underneath the tree and spreading 2-to-4 inches of mulch. Be careful not to use too much mulch and DO NOT  cover the base of the trunk!  Trees need to breathe at the root base.  In addition, take care with the mulch that you use.  Acid-loving trees (dog woods, pines, oaks) really like pine needles or peat moss.   
3. Fertilize. In the forest, natural plant materials feed the soil around trees. But in our yards, we rake and remove all those natural nutrients, like leaves and grass clippings. Fertilizer solves that problem. Apply a slow-release fertilizer regularly to replenish nutrients in the soil. Also, test your soil periodically to see if any elements are missing or in short supply.
4. Prune. Proper trimming improves trees’ structure while also removing any deadwood holding them back. Do major pruning when the tree is dormant and doesn’t have any leaves (if possible). Then, in summer, focus on tidying up and clearing out small, dead or damaged twigs.
5. Book checkups. Scheduling your annual checkup? Make an appointment for your tree, too! Spotting signs of pests or diseases early can make all the difference. ISA Certified Arborists® look for red flags like discolored leaves, cankers, holes, and more. Then, they provide a plan of action on how to help.

Information provided by Davey: Proven Solutions for a Growing World.