June 2025

Summer heat can be extremely hard on trees, especially landscape trees in our urban forest. If they  are not well-watered, harsh temperatures make trees more susceptible to insects and disease. Extended periods of drought can cause stress in both newly planted and mature, well-established trees.

We have collected tree care tips from the City of Lake Oswego, Friends of Trees and Portland Parks & Recreation to help you shift into summer plant care mode and help your landscapes handle and recover from spans of extreme heat.

By Jim Newcomer, LOSN Materials Management Team

On March 20, 2025, I was one of three members of our LOSN Materials Management Team that toured the EFI Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) on Swan Island. The MRF is where Republic Services, our trash hauler in Lake Oswego, takes the commingled recyclables that you put out on the curb weekly in your recycling can. For most of us, once Republic Services picks that can up and dumps it into their truck, it just disappears.

We learned there is so much more to this process and about the EFI team of employees who are truly dedicated to their mission of recycling and sustainability.

The City of Lake Oswego is conducting a survey of Lake Oswego residents, property owners, and landscaping businesses to hear their experiences and perspectives on the transition from gas to electric landscaping equipment. This survey will inform work on the City Council’s 2025 goal related to phasing out use of gas-powered yard and lawn care equipment after the City of Portland’s ban goes into effect. Learn more and fill out the survey at the link on the City’s website:

At LOSN, much of our work is focused on individuals — our homes, our cars, our lawns. Some issues, like regulating emissions, or building a new city building, require a group effort. That’s where the Advocacy team comes in. We promote selected city and state policies that will reduce toxic emissions, greenhouse gasses, healthy chemicals, waste and more. We brainstorm about solutions, campaign for our issues and meet with elected officials. We’re always looking for more talent, so let us know if you’d like to join the advocacy committee.

Our mission is to usher in a new era of landscape practices that restore the environment, protect public health, and encourage long-term sustainability, increased biodiversity, and enhanced resilience.

Sustainable landscaping is landscaping with nature. It focuses on restoring the environment and promoting long-term sustainability for all of the plants and animals that make up our urban landscapes. It differs from conventional landscaping by prioritizing the health and sustainability of the ecosystem rather than aesthetics alone.

How can you do your part? Start in your garden.

Homegrown National Park is raising awareness and inspiring individuals to address the biodiversity crisis by taking simple actions in their own gardens. Their mission is to regenerate biodiversity, because all humans need healthy, productive ecosystems to survive.

The Backyard Habitat Certification program is another valuable resource, providing tools, resources, and recognition for gardening sustainably and creating wildlife habitat and climate-resilient landscapes.

Visit our website for tips and resources. Our  April newsletter focuses on Sustainable Landscaping practices and offers great tips.

Show your support with LOSN’s Gas-Free Landscape sign!

Studies show that the actions of our neighbors influence our choices. Adopting gas-free practices and displaying one of our signs will help build awareness, and may encourage others in your neighborhood to follow suit. Request your free yard sign today.