On Oct 21, 2023, our neighborhood hosted our eighth Home Tree Care 101 class, offered via Conservation Montgomery and taught by arborist Jack Pond. Ten neighbors attended, as well as one guest from Bowie, another from Rosemary Hills, and Conservation Montgomery board member Lauren Brown.

We addressed tree questions at five different yards. Topics covered included: pruning street trees to ameliorate or prevent damage caused by passing vehicles; general guidelines for pruning large and small trees; cabling; powdery mildew on a beloved dogwood; a crepe myrtle with scale insect infestation; a magnolia tree declining due to increasing overhead shade; identification of a mystery tree; proper use of mulch around trees (keep it away from the trunk!) and more. Jack demonstrated pruning techniques on several trees. Reviews for the class were highly complimentary. Thanks to NWCA, which kicked in $5 per neighbor to reduce the cost of the class for the purposes of community building.

— Phyllida Paterson, NWCA Tree Committee