Have you ever wondered how the plants we grow can help combat climate change? How factors like soil health can play a role in making our communities greener and cooler? And what we can do to design better landscapes for a more climate-resilient world? As we experience the very real impacts of climate change in…
Zoie Matthew
Digital Marketing Manager
Help nature heal: avoid recent burn scars!
January 22, 2025The wildfires that tore through Los Angeles this month devastated so many of our local communities, as well as some of our region’s most beloved wilderness areas in the San Gabriel and Santa Monica Mountains. In the wake of this disaster, we’ve understandably received many questions about what restoration might look like in those ecosystems—and…
How to avoid starting a wildfire during a wind event
January 22, 2025Wind and fire have always been part of California’s ecosystem, and many of our native plants are well-adapted to withstanding or recovering from blazes. But as our region has grown denser and more urbanized, major, fast-moving fires have become more common and more dangerous—in large part due to human activity. Humans are responsible for about…
Here’s what it takes to plant an urban tree
December 17, 2024Life in the big city isn’t so easy for trees—and helping our urban canopy thrive and grow takes a lot more planning, care, and resources than you might expect. Here’s how TreePeople makes sure the trees we plant in our urban environment stay happy and healthy for years to come: 1. Trees need propagation In…
Five options for a more sustainable Christmas tree
December 17, 2024Christmas trees are a great way to infuse your home with cheer during the holiday season. But farming real trees just to cut them down isn’t ideal—and producing a bunch of brand new plastic trees is even worse. So how can you make sure you’re celebrating in the most sustainable way possible? Here are a…
Five Holiday Gifts That Give Back to Our Environment
December 17, 2024It’s the season of giving, and if you’re searching for the perfect present for the environmentalist in your life, look no further. TreePeople has a wide assortment of gifts available for every type of nature lover—and the best part is, you’ll also be giving a gift to our local ecosystem by helping to fund our…
The world is stressful right now. Forest bathing can help.
November 18, 2024Unfortunately, there’s an awful lot to be anxious about in our world today. One thing that can help you feel more grounded, peaceful, or even hopeful? Reconnecting with nature. Shinrin-yoku—which translates to “forest bathing”—is an ecotherapy practice that originated in Japan, which simply involves spending mindful, restorative time in in a forest or other natural…
How to find fall color in Southern California
November 18, 2024Some people say we don’t have fall in Southern California… and it’s true our seasons do work a little differently here. Because we have a Mediterranean-type climate, the time of year we call fall is really more like a shift from “hot and dry season” to “cool and wet season.” And because the cool season…
The Spookiest Hikes to Take in Los Angeles
October 11, 2024Spooky season is upon us! And as the weather finally cools down, it’s also one of the best times of the year to get outdoors and take a hike. If you’ve been pining for a way to enjoy nature AND get a little creeped out at the same time, fear not…we’ve rounded up five of…
What to do when a tree is at risk of being cut down
October 8, 2024Our urban forest is a precious resource. Trees help cool our streets in a warming climate, create critical habitat for wildlife, and beautify our neighborhoods, too. We need to be planting more trees—especially in areas that have historically been disinvested in. And it can be extra frustrating when one is at risk of being cut…
Anatomy of a Chaparral Ecosystem
September 17, 2024If you’ve been hiking in California, odds are you’ve encountered the chaparral, the most widespread native plant community in the state. Here’s everything you need to know about this amazing (but often under-appraciated) ecosystem: Home to 20 percent of California’s plant species, chaparral is defined by dense, low-lying shrubs like sagebrush, ceanothus, manzanita, and chamise,…
How to grow native plants in containers
August 13, 2024The benefits of growing California native plants are vast: they increase biodiversity by providing habitat and food for native creatures. They’re highly sustainable and low maintenance because they’re adapted to California’s ecosystem. And of course, they’re just plain beautiful! If you have a yard you can rip out and replace with natives—you absolutely should! Our…