by Gregory Cznadel

     (Plain Press June 2025) April Showers bring May flowers. This year it was trees: lots of trees, tree plantings, and tree give aways. God decided this was the year to help renew his green earth by increasing our tree canopy to scrub the carbon out of the air, bring shade back to city streets; and care for the often forgotten old, loving, trees.

     In 2015, the City of Cleveland, Cleveland Neighborhood Progress, Holden Forests & Gardens, LAND Studio, and the Western Reserve Land Conservancy funded the creation of the Cleveland Tree Plan. Out of this plan, the Cleveland Tree Coalition formed with the purpose of coordinating efforts and leverage resources. In 2017, on Arbor Day, the Cleveland Tree Coalition announced the Cleveland Tree Canopy Goal, a proposal to grow Cleveland’s urban tree canopy cover from 19% to 30% by 2040. This year In Cleveland, by Cleveland Tree Coalition members: 1,170 trees have been given away. 517 trees planted!

     Yes, God did his part also. On a rainy, May 3rd Day, Pastor Dean Van Farowe from the Evangelical Environmental Network (EEN:  htpps://creationcare.org), had a Trees of Life for Cleveland tree care workshop at Lake Pool Park. While under tents shedding water, reminiscent of the forty days and nights, there was a brief study of trees in the bible, e.g. Genesis 2:9 “Out of the ground the Lord God made to grow every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food.”

     Amanda Wood from the Holden Forests & Gardens told of how trees clean rainwater, prevent erosion, provide habitat, even help pavement longevity and energy reduction. She showed the percentage of tree canopy in Cleveland in relation to historic red-lining maps. There is a correlation between areas where people were denied loans (often black, indigenous, and people of color) and lower tree canopies today. She then led training for the planting of two black gum trees.

     Julia Van Wagenen of Neighborly Tree Care LLC led us through the maintenance of trees. The most important tip: gently bend the exposed wires of the deer fencing when wrapping fencing around the tree, as you want to be able to easily access the trees each year to pull weeds, prune, and add mulch.

     Last month St. James Lutheran Church had three Dogwood trees planted from Old Brooklyn’s Tree Planting Program. According to legend, after the crucifixion of Christ, God cursed the tree by making it smaller and twisting its branches, ensuring it would never again be large enough for another cross. At the same time, God blessed the tree with four petals of its flower to represent the cross, and the small red dots or notches on the petals are believed to represent the nail holes, the central part of the flower said to resemble the crown of thorns. 

     The courtyard is also being blessed with a Fig tree. According to Luke 21:29-31 He told them this parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees. When they sprout leaves, you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near.”

Cleveland Tree Coalition meeting

     Six presentations were given at the May meeting of the Cleveland Tree Coalition (CTC). The Cleveland Metroparks, Downtown Cleveland, Inc., Slavic Village, Friends of the Jefferson Neighborhood, the Holden Forests & Gardens, and Western Reserve Land Conservancy, presented projects they have been working on.

Tree Pits

     Drew Crawford, Senior Director of Planning for Downtown Cleveland Inc., spoke on the Downtown tree canopy coverage, currently at 4.15% compared with 28.5% for Lakewood. Drew explained the challenge with the tree “pits” along the sidewalks in Cleveland where trees fail to survive. Many pits are not legal, trees keep dying after planting, city won’t permit new tree plantings based on tree pit size, compacted soil. They have already replaced 11 trees on Superior, 20 trees on Public Square, and 6 in commercial corridors. Tree Pit retrofits cost two thousand dollars each including the 6’ x 12’ tree pit, tree soil and excavation. Cleveland has a 10,000-tree backlog.

Senior Trees

     Jen Reiser from the Natural Resource Division of the Cleveland Metroparks spoke about their effort to save our oldest trees. The most recognizable one was the willow at Edgewater Park. For each tree soil aeration and fertilization was done. A mulch ring placed around them. Root trimming and pruning was done in December. Each tree was ID’d with a silver dollar sized tag. During the project Jen kept talking about lessons learned. Cost: 299 trees at $50,000.

Read Directions First

     Roger Tokar from Friends of the Jefferson Neighborhood talked to two residents under the guise starting a block club, but the plan was to plant trees. Surveyed residents:10% of residents were “trees, no way” another 10%, “I’ve been waiting for this.” Roger bought 20 pin oaks from Home Depots at W. 117^th and at Steel Yard Commons to hopefully replace some of the old, majestic pin oaks in his neighborhood. He did not realize all the rules and requirements for planting trees on tree lawns for your property: calling 811, depth planted, size of hole, prepping roots. He eventually applied for a grant from CTC, received $4,000 dollars. Spent $110 per tree, 200 for delivery, and the rest for an arborist. The CTC commended him, the attendees applauded.

Personalization

     To make people feel a connection to the trees planted in their neighborhood, the idea of “owning” a tree has arisen.

     To this purpose, Old Brooklyn Tree Stewards had volunteers, after a day of weeding, pruning, mulching, and fencing at Loew Park, hang tree tags with their common and scientific name, useful facts, and an imaginative name that will connect that person to that tree. The two-sided cards were designed by tree steward Josh Maxwell. Exterior Home Repair Classes held in conjunction with the Old Brooklyn CDC and sponsored by Huntington Bank will be held June 5th. Learn to make right or prevent all the mistakes of mother nature and us (with examples!) – girdling of trees by deer, crossing of branches, trees with two “leaders,” invasives, proper pruning and mulching.

     At the CTC meeting Amanda Wood shared information on a tree planting project done in partnership with the Northeast Ohio Regional Sewer District on one of their vacant lots. White Oak, persimmons, sweet bay magnolias, and serviceberries were tagged with small 2” x 3” laminated cards with space for the tree name, date planted and created human name. Imaginative tree names included Sherry Berry, Maggy the Magnolia, and Pete the Persimmons.

     A bumble bee found in the bark of a tree at Loew Park tagged a Burr Oak as it’s home. It was awakening to newly laid mulch.