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Plant More Trees Now!
By Marlena Krcelich
September/October 2021
 Mature trees bring welcome shade to the historic South Park neighborhood. Courtesy Google street view
The City of San Diego has a commitment to increase the number of trees in the region's tree canopy to help meet the goals of its Climate Action Plan. The goals include planting new trees in open spaces, and retaining the mature trees that define many of our historic neighborhoods. Aesthetically pleasing, trees also provide many other benefits to our communities, including giving shade, lowering temperatures, reducing energy use and cooling and heating costs, preventing soil erosion, and even enticing people to get outside and improve their wellbeing.
In addition, historic trees in neighborhoods like Kensington, Mission Hills, and South Park and in public areas such as Balboa Park contribute to our cultural landscape and understanding of the city's development over time. Tree-lined streets even increase business and profits in commercial areas and neighborhood main streets. Trees help us contextualize our surroundings, understand history, improve our day to day lives, and fight climate change all in one!
While no new planting can replace a specimen tree (as several neighborhoods have sadly learned), and we strongly urge you to maintain your mature trees, planting new trees can slow climate change. There are many varieties of trees that thrive in San Diego. Look HERE for information from Cal Poly that will help you select the best tree for your property based on a variety of characteristics and site conditions. This site will also tell you about your neighborhood's historic trees and why they should be retained.
The city has also released an Urban Tree Canopy Assessment regarding the existing tree coverage, percentage of trees per community and council district, and where new trees can be added to the canopy. Find this assessment and interactive maps HERE. Check out your neighborhood to see where you might be able to plant a new tree or two, and explore areas with established specimen trees to better appreciate and help preserve San Diego's important and richly varied cultural landscape.
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