Web Sites

California Gardening; Advice to Grow By

This is a website designed to serve as an information portal for California gardeners. It focuses on sustainable gardening practices and uses a question and answer format. Click on “Landscape Trees, Shrubs and Vines” for information about tree selection and management
Selectree 

Selectree is a large tree database containing information on over four dozen attributes for each tree. Some attributes that are not usually noted in most tree manuals are described....for example, allergenic potential and biogenic emissions.

Center for Urban Forest Research

This is the site that will tell you about the research being conducted that confirms that trees add real value to communities in many ways.

University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources Catalog

The on-line ANR catalog lists all of the books, pamphlets and videos available for sale. Click on “Free Publications” for a long list of free downloadable single subject pamphlets. See 
# 8046 Planting landscape Trees and #8045 Fertilizing Landscape Trees and many more.

University of California Statewide Integrated
Pest Management Program

Use this site for the best information about how to identify and manage insects, mites, diseases and vertebrates that may be causing problems for your tree.

Trees Are Good

The International Society of Arboriculture site especially for homeowners. It contains tree care information as well as how to find a certified arborist or tree care company.

American Society of Consulting Arborists

Members of this group may have additional expertise in the practice of arboriculture.

California Oak Mortality Task Force

This site contains current information about Sudden Oak Death. The regularly updated information is geared toward researchers, landscape professionals and homeowners.

Pitch Canker Task Force

Information on identification, prevention and management of Pine Pitch Canker. Lists species currently known to be susceptible.

                    Books etc.
Oaks in the Urban Landscape; Selection Care and Preservation. L. Costello, B. Hagen and K. Jones. ANR catalog 3518. Everyone who has an oak in the yard or in the neighborhood should have this book.

A Californian’s Guide to the Trees Among Us. M. Ritter, Heyday Books. Over 150 entries describing, with color photos and identification keys, the most widely planted landscape trees in California.

Larkspur Past and Present; a History and Walking Guide, H. Heitkamp and R. Cunningham. Larkspur Heritage and Preservation Board. All residents of Larkspur and environs will appreciate this book. Many significant trees get a mention.

More:

Recognizing Tree Hazards; a Photographic Guide for Homeowners ANR catalog 21584 Everyone who lives near a tree should have this one!

Pests of Landscape Trees and Shrubs ANR catalog 3359 Problems caused by living organisms...insects, diseases etc.

Abiotic Disorders of Landscape Plants ANR catalog 3420 Problems not caused by living organisms...nutrient deficiencies, freezing, heat, wind etc.

Sunset Western Garden Book  In the years prior to the internet Sunset was considered the best reference for California home gardeners. If you are only going to have one gardening book in your library, this should be it. Plants are listed by botanical names. A new edition published in 2012 shows the plants in the encyclopedia section in color for the first time.

Trees of the California Landscape. C. Hatch. 2007. University of California Press. A tree manual written from the point of view of a landscape architect.

The Illustrated Encyclopedia of Trees. More and White. 2003 Timber Press. It is worth looking at this book for the incredibly intricate and beautiful illustrations alone. The tree descriptions are brief, but because the author is British, interesting facts emerge that are missing in American tree manuals.

Native Trees for North American Landscapes
Sternberg. 2004. Timber Press. 

Only one California native tree is mentioned in this book, but many others are commonly planted here. It’s a heavy book with 551 pages filled with detailed text and beautiful photos.

It is becoming common to find books that illustrate trees and where to see them in cities and parks. Here are a few: 

Trees of Golden Gate Park and San Francisco. E. McClintock. 2001

The Trees of San Francisco. M. Sullivan. 2004

Trees of Stanford and Environs, R. Bracewell. 2005

Trees of Los Altos. A. Coombs. 2004

Trees of Santa Barbara, R. Muller and R. Haller. 2005

Ornamental Trees of San Diego. D. Walker and S. Brigham. 2003.