Friends of the Urban Forest

Planting & caring for trees is hard work! Our staff spend a lot of their time out in the field planting 🪴, pruning ✂️, inspecting for insects 🐜 & disease, adjusting stakes & hardware 🔨 , clearing roots 🍂, & watering 💧. Big thanks to Hernandez Leather Products for their glove donation to our staff!

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A brief history of San Francisco's urban forest! 🌳 Pre-colonization: The natural landscape consists of sand dunes, grasses, shrubs & very few trees. 🌳 Mid-to-late 1800s: Large groves of trees are planted in areas that later become parks. Read more: www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/post/a-brief...

Did you know that we care for the trees we plant for the first 3 years of their lives? 🌳 We water, prune and mulch them, check their health, and ensure that their stakes and ties are sound. Last week, a wonderful group of volunteers from Temasek came out to care for trees with us in the Bayview. 💚

What a beautiful Japantown planting, the 7th in our Trees of Faith initiative supported by @americanforests.bsky.social and SF Interfaith Council. Huge thanks to Buddhist Church of SF, Japanese American Religious Federation, St. Benedict Parish for the Deaf, and Convent & Stuart Hall School.

Plant trees with us in Visitacion Valley! 🌳 Join us Saturday, October 24th, 8:45 am - 1:30 pm. No experience needed. Just a willingness to get your hands in the dirt. 🌿 Sign up today! www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/volunteer-op... #SanFrancisco #UrbanForestry #Arboriculture

Another great morning planting trees with @sftrees.bsky.social ! Twist this time, more volunteers than usual! Working in the heart of Japantown, many hands make light work; each tree got a lot of extra love—so apologies to my group leader Rob who was amazing 😆 I'm always pushing for Step Next…

🌳 The average San Francisco street tree intercepts 1,006 gallons of rainwater each year. 🌳 A mature tree can store 50-100 gallons of water during large storms. 🌳 Mature trees absorb 120-240 pounds of particulate pollution each year. #urbanforest #sanfrancisco #treefacts

Trees save lives. Using data on temperature, tree canopy cover, demographics & mortality in Chicago from 2011-2021, researchers found that “neighborhoods with increasing year-to-year tree canopy had lower associated death rates.” 🌳 Learn more: doi.org/10.1029/2025... #urbanforestry #urbanforests

The Sunset has 48 new street trees! Last Saturday was our kickoff planting with @sfpublicworks.bsky.social's Bureau of Urban Forestry. We received funding to plant 2500 trees over three years together! 🌳🌳🌳 #sanfrancisco #urbanforestry

We’re hiring a Watering Technician! This is a field-based role performed in two-person teams. While your partner navigates the vehicle, you will serve as the primary crew member responsible for hands-on tree care. 🌳 Learn more: www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/careers 💚 Please share #urbanforestry

We’re hiring a Water Crew Manager! The Water Crew Manager is responsible for managing, training, onboarding, and supervising up to seven Water Technicians. 🌳 Learn more www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/careers 💚 Please share #greenjobs #nonprofitjobs #urbanforestry #sanfrancisco

We had a special Planting Leaders tree planting in Nob Hill! 🌳 They're a team of specially trained volunteers who lead groups at our community events. 💚 HUGE thanks to Adriana, Benjamin, Bob, Emily, Erika, Frank, Garrett, Jacki, Jimmy, Josh, Joshua, Michael, Mik, Nelson, Pete, Peter & Stephanie!

Did you know that street trees can have transplant shock? It’s normal for a tree to experience shock when it's removed from its container and planted in the ground. Transplant shock can look terrible (defoliation, leaf yellowing, wilting), but it’s usually temporary and not fatal to the tree. 🌳

Let’s talk about tree basins! Have you ever wondered: 🌳 Can I have a tree planted in an empty basin? 🌿 How do I keep my tree basin looking nice? 📏 How is tree basin size determined? We’ve got answers! Learn more: www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/post/let-s-t... #sanfrancisco #urbanforestry

We’re hiring! The Green Crew Manager is responsible for managing, training and supervising Green Crew program participants and supporting the needs and goals of our Workforce Development Program. 🌳 Learn more & apply! www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/careers 💚 Please share #greenjobs #nonprofitjobs

We’re hiring! The Green Crew Coordinator assists with the hiring, managing, supervising and training of our workforce development program participants. 🌳 Learn more www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/careers 💚 Please share. Thanks! #urbanforestry #sanfrancisco #greenjobs #nonprofitjobs

Polk Gulch and Nob Hill have 43 new street trees! 🌳 Big thanks to our Planting Leaders, our community volunteers, District 3 Supervisor @dannysauter.bsky.social and to all the volunteers from Wilson Sonsini Goodrich Rosati for making the day a success! 💚 #sanfrancisco #urbanforestry #arboriculture

Learn more about who to contact to report a tree that needs attention: www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/faq-treecare... 🌳 #sanfrancisco #urbanforestry #arboriculture

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We’re hiring 2 Tree Planting Managers! You'll manage the full life cycle of neighborhood planting projects from site evaluation and species selection to volunteer workdays and project closeout. 🌳 Apply: www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/careers 💚 Please share! #urbanforestry #greenjobs #nonprofitjobs

Last week, our Tree Care and Tree Planting teams went on a morning Tree Walk in the Lower Haight with Mike Sullivan. Mike is the author of The Trees of San Francisco and a former Friends of the Urban Forest board president. Thanks, Mike! #sanfrancisco #urbanforestry #arboriculture

Dogpatch has 41 new street trees and half of the trees planted are native to California! 🌳 Huge thanks to all of our community volunteers and to the Dogpatch and Northwest Potrero Hill Green Benefit District for their time, energy, and support! #sanfrancisco #urbanforestry #arboriculture

Volunteers planted 42 trees in the Mission! 🌳 It was the 1st planting for our newest Green Crew, 1st time working with Dream.Org and one of our Tree Planting Managers, Geri, dedicated five memorial trees to their grandma, who passed away. 💚 #sanfrancisco #urbanforestry

How much water does a street tree need? We’re so glad you asked! Young trees and established trees need different amounts of water.💧 Learn how much: www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/post/how-muc... #sanfrancisco #urbanforestry #arboriculture

We recently cared for (mostly) oak trees that we planted 1.5 years ago near Tule Elk Park Early Education School: 3 coast live oaks, a blue oak, an interior live oak, a holly oak, a netleaf oak, a Mexican blue oak, and a Compton oak. Oh and two silk floss trees--that's the one with the spiky trunk!

Water temps in the equatorial Pacific Ocean are among the highest recorded, leading to El Niño predictions. Planting street trees will help SF prepare: Tree basins soak up water Tree leaves slow rain Trees filter storm water pollutants 🌳 Learn more! www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/post/super-e...

We’re hiring a Development Director! 🌳 They are responsible for designing, implementing & evaluating a comprehensive fundraising strategy that ensures long-term sustainability & growth, generating between $1.5-$2 million in contributed revenue annually: 🌿 www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/careers 🌿

A diverse group of collaborators gathered at the McLaren Park Native Plant Garden in Vis Valley to care for the trees: 🌳 Tree care volunteers 🌳 Green Crew 🌳 A board member 🌳 @sfenvironment.bsky.social's CA Climate Action Corps Fellows 🌳 Vis Valley Greenway 🌳 Reimagining San Francisco Thank you! 💚

Young street trees need pruning, health checks, and hardware checks. ✂️ This lovely group of interns from @bloomberg.com recently visited and cared for 15 trees in Hayes Valley. 🌳 We appreciate their generous support and boundless energy! 💚 Photos by Jiu Jitsu Photography #sanfrancisco

Our community tree planting & tree care volunteers are our “special sauce.” We often hear from volunteers that they visit "their" tree & our regular volunteers have formed a special community of tree care stewards. Whether you’ve volunteered with us once, or many times, 💚THANK YOU💚 #urbanforestry

We were proud to join thousands of San Franciscans for the first One City Day! 56 One City Day volunteers cared for 50 trees in the Sunset & planted 48 trees in Silver Terrace. 🌳 Let’s keep the momentum going! Plant trees with us this summer www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/volunteer-op...

Young street trees need lots of 💚. That’s why, with the help of community volunteers, we check their health & hardware, prune them & mulch them. This wonderful group from BMO helped us care for 20 trees in the Western Addition. We’re so thankful for their time, energy and generous support. 🌳

What a beautiful Polk Gulch planting, the 6th in our Trees of Faith initiative supported by @americanforests.bsky.social & SF Interfaith Council. Huge thanks to @dannysauter.bsky.social & community partners San Bao Temple, Old 1st Presbyterian Church, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church & Discover Polk CBD.

🌳 We’re often asked about where and how we water. We’ve answered some of your burning questions here: www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/post/where-a... 🌳 If you see a young tree in need of care, please report it through our Tree Care Form. d1qieoeoypx.typeform.com/TreeCareRequ... #urbanforestry

One of the best strategies for beating extreme heat in cities is to plant trees! 🌳 In order to protect all of our city’s residents, we need to expand our tree canopy to ALL neighborhoods. And you can help. 💚 Plant trees with us! www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/volunteer-op... #sanfrancisco

NoPa has 48 new street trees! 37 volunteers came out to plant, including the wonderful AECOM team, who planted with us for the 2nd time this year. 🌳 We planted 20 native trees including 11 coast live oaks, which was extra special because the planting was right by a coast live oak grove in GG Park.

Let’s green Silver Terrace! 🌳 Plant trees with us on Saturday, July 11th (One City Day!). No experience needed. Just a willingness to get your hands in the dirt. 💚 Sign up today! www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/volunteer-op... #sanfrancisco #urbanforestry #arboriculture

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Did you know that we make about 3,500 tree care visits each year? Yup! And wonderful volunteers, like these folks from ​​Woodard & Curran who spent the morning in the Excelsior, help us assess the trees’ health, ensure that their stakes and ties are sound, and prune them, as needed. 🌳✂️ #sanfrancisco

San Francisco is coming together for One City Day on July 11 🌉 We’ll be hosting a community tree care event in the Sunset and a community tree planting in Silver Terrace. 🌳 Sign up to volunteer: www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/volunteer-op... Let's show up for SF! #OneCityDay #SanFrancisco #SF

We’re hiring a Tree Planting Coordinator! 🌳 They provide fieldwork and data entry support for our Tree Planting Managers—from site evaluation and species selection to volunteer workdays and project closeout. More info! www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/careers #sanfrancisco #greenjobs #urbanforestry

What a fun planting in Portola with @bloomberg.com! Their team planted 10 trees including Chinese pistache, peppermint willow, 'Pink Dawn' chitalpa & sweet bay. If your team is looking for a fun, hands-on event that makes a tangible impact, reach out! www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/corporate-pa...

We’re hiring a Tree Care Program Manager! 🌳The Tree Care Program Manager manages our tree care and watering programs to optimize young trees’ health during their critical 3-to-5-year establishment period. More info! www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/careers #sanfrancisco #greenjobs #urbanforestry

Tree planting volunteers needed in Polk Gulch, Sat., 6/27! 🌳Join us in greening SF. No experience needed, just a willingness to get your hands in the dirt. We’ll celebrate with a delicious lunch after the trees are in the ground! 💚 www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/volunteer-op... #sanfrancisco

What a great planting in the Outer Mission! Huge thanks to the 64 volunteers who planted 44 trees. Special thanks to our Planting Leaders (Anthony, Garrett, Ivan, Jacki, Lily, Pete, Rob) and to the teams from Sheppard and AECOM for their volunteers and generous support 💚 #sanfrancisco #urbanforestry

We’re hiring a Community Engagement Manager! 🌳 The Community Engagement Manager serves as a liaison between Friends of the Urban Forest and the communities we work with in neighborhoods across San Francisco. More info! www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/careers #sanfrancisco #greenjobs #urbanforestry

Our long-time collaborators, GIC, are celebrating 40 years in San Francisco by planting 40 trees! 🎉 Their dedicated team kicked off the celebration last month by planting 12 trees in the Bayview. They’ll be back in the fall to plant more! 🌳🌳🌳 #sanfrancisco #urbanforestry #arboriculture

58 volunteers planted 45 trees in the Bayview! 🌳 Huge thanks to all the volunteers, our Planting Leaders (Adriana, Annette, Anthony, Bob, Chris, Evan, Frank, Ivan, Jill, Joshua, Pam) and to @arcadisglobal.bsky.social and @airdistrict.bsky.social for their volunteers and generous support! 💚

Have you ever wondered why trees need to be pruned? ✂️ Pruning removes dead, dysfunctional, damaged & diseased branches (the 4Ds). Removing the 4Ds improves a tree’s structure, growth & health. Big thanks to the volunteers from Beesure for pruning young street trees in the Western Addition! 🌳