Anonymous wrote:What native trees can I plant that can live in what is now the marshy environs of my backyard? I don't want to put a Florida cypress back there.

I don't know where you live but this publication lists a few trees that seem to do well in wet soils:

https://www.plantnovanatives.org/

What native trees can I plant that can live in what is now the marshy environs of my backyard? I don't want to put a Florida cypress back there.

Anonymous wrote:All the young families moving into our neighborhood are cutting down trees right and left because they are "scary" and might fall.

Yes, because the trees were typically planted too close to their houses, or were inappropriately selected in the first place. Friends of mine had three trees slice their house this year in MD. They and their small children are living in an apartment for the foreseeable future.

We are taking down the weak or diseased trees which are near the house and planting the taller trees away from houses in the back of our lot and planting trees which will be smaller at maturity closer to the house.

It's not rocket science. Trees have to be taken care of, just like any other plant. ~Gen xer

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see how a tree can soak up that much water. You don’t see the tree or leaves expand. Plus large tree can become a hazard.

Three ways:

1. Water release through the leaf stomata (the little holes in the leaves that also absorb carbon dioxide and release oxygen)

https://www.thoughtco.com/plant-stomata-function-4126012

2. Plant turgor, the water pressure inside the plant cell walls that allows them to be rigid--this is one reason leaves wilt when the plant doesn't get enough water.


3. Photosynthesis, which is how plants synthesize all plant tissue and the food other organisms eat:

6 CO2+ 6 H2O + light energy ---> C6H12O6 + 6 O2 That happens in all the green parts of a plant.

Anonymous wrote:More made up “science.” This theory doesn’t hold water.

I see what you did there But in case others are unclear, this is actually the kind of science the has been observed, measured, and tested and so is no longer a "theory." Yes, trees actually do hold a ton of water and release in a way that does not flood your basement.

Environmental issues need to be taken seriously. However, politicians and others are taking advantage of the situation. Playing upon one of humans oldest fear - a change that disrupts food supply or worse.

More made up “science.” This theory doesn’t hold water.

Anonymous wrote:I don’t see how a tree can soak up that much water. You don’t see the tree or leaves expand. Plus large tree can become a hazard.

I don’t see how a tree can soak up that much water. You don’t see the tree or leaves expand. Plus large tree can become a hazard.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, I cut down the trees in my backyard for a garden. Now the sun dries the ground out faster allowing it to soak up excess rain water. Before that it flowed into my neighbors yard and at times flooded my basement. I grew up on a farm and soil dynamics still puzzle me.

I'm curious as to whether you had lawn and mowed around the trees prior to that? If so, it's possible that the soil was so compacted (especially if you used a ride-on mower) that surface water would run off before it even got to the tree roots at that spot.

That said, the trees still absorbed underground water to survive, and in essence did their bit to help prevent flooding elsewhere, which is why it's so important that we all participate in regreening our neighborhoods.

I think the question about the lawn and trees would have to do with how much excess the lawn could take up vs making its way to storm sewers. The top few inches of soil is one thing, going down deeper is another.

I also kind of wonder about the difference between actual forest--even small forested areas--vs a few trees in yards?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:May I ask for the source that the forest obsorbs 25x more water? Is it because the ground is not packed so hard or other reason(s). Thx

Think about it. Trees are tall, and able to absorb lots of water. Not grass.

I would guess also because their roots go deep and wide. I often wonder how it is trees planted in the middle of concrete and buildings manage to get enough water at all.

Plus, as they release water into the air (is that what they call transpiration?) they reduce the air temperature and help mitigate urban heat island effect.

7:36 yes I mowed the lawn before cutting down the trees. It was a push mower. I don’t recall the soul being too compacted. Mostly covered with pine needles. My take was the sun dried out the soil faster creating space for the rain to seep into the soil. It is 50 / 50 clay.

All the young families moving into our neighborhood are cutting down trees right and left because they are "scary" and might fall.

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, I cut down the trees in my backyard for a garden. Now the sun dries the ground out faster allowing it to soak up excess rain water. Before that it flowed into my neighbors yard and at times flooded my basement. I grew up on a farm and soil dynamics still puzzle me.

I'm curious as to whether you had lawn and mowed around the trees prior to that? If so, it's possible that the soil was so compacted (especially if you used a ride-on mower) that surface water would run off before it even got to the tree roots at that spot.

That said, the trees still absorbed underground water to survive, and in essence did their bit to help prevent flooding elsewhere, which is why it's so important that we all participate in regreening our neighborhoods.

The science behind this as well as the economic impacts are still developing. Furthermore, there is no single model that fits every situation. Add human nature to the equation and it gets even more complicated.