Tree Tips for 2025

In short, Western Washington forests are changing. Some trees may be lost in places they once thrived as cumulative drought stress takes its toll. And it’s not just the Hemlocks. Western Red Cedar and Large Leaf Maple are also struggling.

Tip one

Remove dead/dying trees to reduce fire risk around property and replace with drought resistant species

Tip Two

Douglas Fir trees are not just drought resistant but have a thick, course outer bark which protects them from moderate forest fires. Pines, Dogwoods and the native Cherry trees are also good alternatives. Leland Cypress are incredibly versatile and can be sculpted according to growing space. To name but a few! Click here for a free consultation to see what trees will be right for you

Tip three

Look around the tree. What else is competing for water? Grass is the worst! Eliminate the grass and replace it with a good two to three inches of mulch

Tip Four

Instead of another burn pile this year, try mulching instead. Chipping up fallen branches and garden debris into woodchips makes the basis of mulch, turning waste into something beneficial. Mulch nourishes the soil, suppresses weeds, conserves water, regulates temperature and prevents erosion. Not only does it dramatically reduce chores like weeding and watering, mulch helps grow bigger, healthier more productive plants.

Tip five

The best time to harvest Usnea is after a storm. When branches have just fallen and the lichen is still alive. Unlike mushrooms and plants, lichens do not have roots. They must grow on other things but only to be closer to the sky. Not only are they not parasitic, lichens have a lot of important roles in ecosystems. Most notably, they fix nitrogen from the air into usable nitrogen for the forest. This is quite important somewhere with nitrogen poor soils like PNW.

But Usnea is no ordinary lichen. Usnea has two major medicinal properties: antimicrobial and immunomodulation. An immunomodulator helps regulate the immune system to the correct level of response, rather than simply suppressing or stimulating the immune system. However, it is the antimicrobial action Usnea is known for (the word microbe applies to bacteria, fungi and viruses). Usnea tinctures are most commonly used to treat throat, lung and sinus infections.