Text reading 'Growing in Gold' with a gold tree icon in the center.

Growing Gold is a set of educational materials and recommendations for getting the best urban forest possible. A healthy tree starts in the nursery. How the tree is grown, watered, and repotted sets it up for success before it is purchased. We want to teach growers how to create the best trees and teach consumers how to identify the best trees. Planting a tree is a rewarding experience and must be done right for the tree to thrive. Proper stewardship of a young tree will reduce many of the problems large, uncared for trees have. We hope the resources on this website help you contribute to the thriving urban forest around you. Our recommendations are based on the best available science and the experience of urban forestry professionals.

Learn

Nursery Production

Planning and Tree Selection

Buying and Inspecting

Planting

Resources for purchasing high-quality nursery stock

Resources for planting trees for long-term success

Growing and Caring

Pruning

Resources for growing and caring for a tree throughout its life

Resources for pruning a tree at any stage of its life

Two trees, one with gold leaves and the other with green leaves.
Digital illustration of seedlings with green and gold leaves growing in a black six-pack seedling container.

Resources for choosing the right tree for your site and city

Resources for growing quality trees

Section illustration of planting a tree with a shovel.
Illustration of a tree in a pot showing the roots underground, with three differently sized pots surrounding the tree.
A close-up illustration a branch attaching to a trunk. A white dashed cut line shows the location where the branch should be cut-- just above the swell where the branch and trunk attach.
Illustration of a tree with gold leaves, showing drip irrigation placed in concentric circles around the base of the tree.

Video Library

Visual learner? Follow along as tree experts Brian Kempf and Dr. Ed Gilman break down pruning, root care, and more.

A man in a black shirt points at a young tree inside a greenhouse.
See full video library

Cue Card Pages

Access the best practice for growing, planting, and managing trees in a convenient, illustrated, one-page PDF. Print out these guides as a reminder.

We currently have cards in English and Spanish for:

  • Benefits of Trees

  • Choosing the right tree species

  • Choosing a high quality tree at the nursery

  • Planting

  • Root management

  • Young tree care

  • Tree pruning

See all cue cards

Details and Specifications

Open source, free, and editable details and specifications for landscape architects, engineers, architects, contractors, urban foresters, arborists, municipalities, and state agencies. Adopt these for your next project. These specifications were developed by Dr. Ed Gilman, Jim Urban, Brian Kempf, and Tyson Caroll of the Urban Tree Foundation.

See all details and specifications

Our Partners

The logo of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA).
U.S. Forest Service badge featuring a yellow border, green background, yellow letters reading "Forest Service," a yellow tree in the center, and yellow text reading "Department of Agriculture" at the bottom.
U.S. Forest Service badge featuring a yellow border, green background, yellow letters reading "Forest Service," a yellow tree in the center, and yellow text reading "Department of Agriculture" at the bottom.
Cal Poly logo with a shield shape containing a rising sun, mountains, and a crossed hammer and feather, with the words 'Learn by Doing' at the top. Cal Poly is written underneath.