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Trees and Science

• Dendrochronology is the science of calculating a tree's age by its rings.
• Tree rings provide precise information about environmental events, including volcanic eruptions.
• A mature birch tree can produce up to 1 million seeds per year.
• Moon trees were grown from seeds taken to the moon by Stuart Roosa, Command Module pilot of the Apollo 14 mission of January 31, 1971. The effort included 400-500 seeds, which orbited the moon on the first few days of February 1971. NASA and the USFS wanted to see if being in space and in the moon's orbit would cause the seeds to grow differently than other seeds.

	News
	Warning: Check Tree-care Credentials Several autumn fatalities linked to dangerous tree care practices are prompting a coalition of arborists and urban foresters to urge contractors (and others) to hire only certified tree-care professionals. MORE >> Best Trees For The Street Scientist John Hammond of the Agricultural Research Service (ARS), the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s chief scientific research agency, has announced the findings of a four-year project to determine the best trees to use in urban spaces. MORE >> Bradford Pears Not Kind to Cities This tree species has weak branch connections and limbs are prone to falling down. MORE >> Selling Houses By the Yard Worried home owners hope landscaping adds value- from the Wall Street Journal MORE >> 2007 Tree of the Year Baldcypress named tree of the year by Society of Municipal Arborists (SMA) MORE >> 17-year Cicadas Threaten Midwest The 17-year cicada (Magicicada septendecim) wreaked havoc across the Midwest in 1990. Now landscaping experts worry about that generation’s offspring descending like a plague this spring. MORE >> NADF Hardiness Zone Map Find out the right tree to plant where you live MORE >>

"The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now."

	Resources
	Tree Care Poster Set Set of three posters- $24.95 Great for classroom and community education. Available through the ISA Web store Preparation is Key to Preventing Storm Damage to Trees Are you and your trees safe from the possible wrath of Mother Nature? MORE >>