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<div>Oregon Department of Forestry</div>
<div>NEWS RELEASE</div>
<div> </div>
<div>April 1, 2009 </div>
<div>09-12 </div>
<div> </div>
<div>Contact: </div>
<div>Paul D. Ries 503.945.7391 </div>
<div>Cynthia Orlando 503-945-7421</div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div><font size="5"><b>Oregon</b><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><b>’</b></font><b>s Arbor Week starts Monday</b></font></div>
<div><font size="4"><b>Oregon breaks the 50 "Tree City" mark</b></font></div>
<div><font size="4"> </font></div>
<div>Beginning next week, during Oregon<font face="Arial, sans-serif">’</font>s Arbor Week, 52 Oregon cities will be recognized as Tree City USA (TCUSA) communities <font face="Arial, sans-serif">–</font> the highest ever total for the state. Newest additions
to the growing list of tree-friendly communities are the cities of Dallas, Lincoln City and Gresham, who are receiving their first-ever awards this month.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Tree City USA, a program of the National Arbor Day Foundation sponsored by the Oregon Department of Forestry, recognizes cities that develop programs to plant and care for trees.</div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif">“<font face="Arial, sans-serif">Trees are important to the quality of life here in Oregon, where we have some of the most productive forestland in the world and some of the most livable cities around,</font>”<font face="Arial, sans-serif">
says Paul Ries, who manages the Oregon Department of Forestry</font>’<font face="Arial, sans-serif">s Urban and Community Forestry Program. Trees and forests enhance quality of life in many ways, including providing fish and wildlife habitat, wood products,
shade, and clean, healthy streams, adds Ries.</font></font></div>
<div> </div>
<div><i><b>In addition to the three new TCUSA cities, Oregon </b></i><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><i><b>“</b></i></font><i><b>Tree Cities</b></i><font face="Arial, sans-serif"><i><b>”</b></i></font><i><b> earning recertification this year include:</b></i></div>
<div> </div>
<div>Albany * Ashland * Baker City * Banks * Beaverton * Bend * Brownsville * Coburg Coos Bay * Corvallis * Cottage Grove * Eagle Point * Echo * Eugene * Forest Grove * Gervais * Grants Pass * Happy Valley * Klamath Falls * La Grande * Lake Oswego *
Lebanon * Madras * McMinnville * Medford * Metolius * Monmouth * Philomath * Portland * Redmond * Reedsport * Rogue River * Salem * Sandy * Scio * Seaside * Sherwood * Sisters * Sunriver * Sweet Home * Talent * Tigard * Tillamook * Toledo
* Troutdale * Tualatin * West Linn * Willamina * Wilsonville.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>The many cities currently planning Arbor Week events with ceremonies or tree plantings include Ashland, Bend, Coburg, Corvallis, Klamath Falls, Lebanon, Portland, Salem, Tigard, and Wilsonville. However, just because you don't see your city listed here
doesn't mean an event isn't planned, so check with local city government officials for details pertaining to your community.</div>
<div> </div>
<div> </div>
<div><font size="4"><b>Planting trees a meaningful way to celebrate state's 150th birthday</b></font></div>
<div><font size="4"> </font></div>
<div>Planting trees is one way people can continue to celebrate Oregon's "Sesquicentennial," the state<font face="Arial, sans-serif">’</font>s 150th anniversary. Many of the Tree City USA communities are including their Arbor Week ceremonies as part of<font size="2" color="#0000FF">
</font> <font face="Arial, sans-serif">“</font>The Great Oregon Tree Plant," a statewide recognition program of 150 tree planting events. Each planting project is receiving an Oregon 150 commemorative plaque.</div>
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<div><font size="4"><b>Tips for tree planting at home</b></font></div>
<div><font size="4"> </font></div>
<div>For homeowners, now is an excellent opportunity to take stock of trees and plan for the future. Consider how planting new trees might improve the look of your property and provide wildlife habitat, scenic beauty, a visual screen, and wind or heat protection.
For long-term success, remember these tree planting tips.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Trees are often not given their best odds for long-term survival and growth because they are planted too deeply. When planting a tree, never dig the hole deeper than necessary and plant the tree with the root collar at ground level or slightly (2<font face="Arial, sans-serif">”</font>)
higher to allow for settling. Also remove all containers, wire, plastic and string from the trunk and roots before planting.</div>
<div> </div>
<div>Fertilizing at the time of planting is not necessary, but the tree should be deeply watered after planting. Common symptoms of newly planted trees that have been too deeply planted include yellow foliage, fall color that comes earlier than usual, and leaf
drop.</div>
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<div>To learn more about Arbor Week, visit <a href="http://www.arborday.org/oregon/"><font color="#0000FF"><u>http://www.arborday.org/oregon/</u></font></a>. </div>
<div>More information about trees can be found at <a href="www.treesaregood.com"><font color="#0000FF"><u>www.treesaregood.com</u></font></a>.</div>
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<div> <font size="2"># # #</font></div>
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<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif">For information / questions regarding the Private Forests News service:</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif"> </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Kevin Weeks</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Public Information Officer / Private Forests Division </font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif">Oregon Department of Forestry</font></div>
<div><font face="Arial, sans-serif">(503) 945-7427</font></div>
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