By Bear Miles, GreenTeam Field Technician

The GreenTeam is a recent addition to the TreesLouisville family, and we take a lot of pride in our responsibility for planting, pruning, watering, and maintaining trees at various project sites across Louisville. Each day is unique due to the diverse landscape of Louisville and the wide range of projects TreesLouisville develops. 

Currently, our primary focus is site maintenance and watering, as the planting season has come to an end until November. When we visit previously planted projects, such as JCPS schools, we assess the trees to determine their specific care needs. Our team takes proactive measures, including re-staking damaged or leaning trees, installing trunk guards to protect against lawn equipment, pulling weeds, and removing dead trees. To keep the entire TreesLouisville team informed, we update the status of each individual tree through our GIS inventory and record the maintenance activities we've completed.

After finishing the initial inspection and maintenance, we move to the pruning phase of older sites. Pruning tasks vary depending on the tree's location (e.g., near the road or in a field) and its growth rate. Some trees require pruning to correct their structure or remove hazards, while others may need suckers removed to improve their aesthetics. With each site visit, we learn valuable lessons about best management practices that promote tree health and sustainability.

It's always disheartening to encounter a site that has been severely damaged by vandalism or lawn care equipment. Whatever the reason for this neglect - a lack of understanding, a disconnect from nature, or negative biases - each incident reinforces the importance of our role in educating and advocating for trees.

Despite these challenges, our experiences exploring the city have been overwhelmingly positive. We've had the pleasure of meeting so many new people from all walks of life because of where our routes take us. We have met other compassionate and nature-loving individuals; people who want to see their communities thrive and want to bring their neighbors together to foster a deeper understanding of the significance of our environment and strengthen community bonds.

We feel proud knowing the work we do will continue to benefit the health of Louisville and it's communities for years to come!