TREE MYTH WEEK - TREES INVITE STRANGER DANGER

Myth: Trees hide trouble makers.

Fact: Trees make neighborhoods more safe. A study by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign reported that buildings with high levels of greenery surrounding them had 48 percent fewer property crimes and 56 percent fewer violent crimes than buildings surrounded by barren land.

The reason? Trees help make outdoor spaces more enjoyable to be in More people on the street/porches = more eyes on the street = greater risk of criminal activity being noticed = less crime. Well-cared for green spaces also serve as signal to would-be criminals that the residents of an area care about their surroundings and are engaged in the community.

And now a plea to water your trees. When you sit down to enjoy an ice cold lemonade on these hot summer days, remember that your trees get thirsty too. Practice 25 to Stay Alive and give your trees 25 gallons of water per week.

TREE MYTH WEEK - TREES, LIKE VAMPIRES, MUST BE STAKED

Myth: Always stake trees after planting them.

Fact: Save the stakes for vampires - sorry Twilight fans - unless the tree's location warrants protection from car doors and/or law maintenance equipment.

These urban threats can sever a tree's water (phloem) and nutrient (xylem) transport systems, located directly under the bark, preventing nutrients from traveling from the roots to the leaves.

Protective stakes can be left unattached from the tree since they are only being used to keep objects away. Two or three stakes arranged around the tree is sufficient.

Staking a tree that does not need it can do more harm than good. Trunk movement strengthens the trunk by thickening it and stimulates root growth. Additionally, staking a tree incorrectly can lead to girdling.

Learn how to properly plant a tree and care for trees by visiting our website at www.caseytrees.org or by volunteering at a tree planting or care event.