The average tree in metropolitan area survives only about 8 years!
Tree Pittsburgh Nursery
In 2011, Tree Pittsburgh started the Tree Nursery, with generous funding from the Sprout Fund's Spring Grant, to address the issue of urban forest biodiversity by providing a more diverse tree stock to use in local tree planting and ecosystem restoration efforts. By growing the trees locally with volunteers, we will have access to more affordable trees strengthening our capacity to plant more trees well into the future.
The Tree Nursery hosts occasional volunteer days to harvest local tree seeds, pot up plants that have outgrown their pots, and help out with other general nursery tasks. The tool shed and hoop house are just two examples of how much work volunteers have done at the nursery.
The Tree Pittsburgh community tree nursery will be the first of its kind in the City since a mid 20th century attempt by the City Forestry Division. The former City nursery was comprised primarily of Elm trees – all wiped out by Dutch Elm disease (a reason for species and genetic diversity!). Shrinking City budgets in the 1970s gave a blow to the Forestry Division, leaving the division understaffed with fewer resources. The nursery was never re-established.
When Pittsburgh was first settled, the forest was rich – a robust hardwood forest. Unfortunately, nearly two centuries of industrialization, mining, and more recently urban sprawl left our natural landscape fragmented. With a diverse and local tree stock, Tree Pittsburgh, the Tree Tenders and other volunteers can help to restore and protect the urban forest for future generations.
Tree Nursery in the News:
Tree Pittsburgh's nursery in Point Breeze gets 4000 seedlings growing
