Norris Tree Commission

04/04/2026

Big thanks to the 14 volunteers who worked hard this morning spreading mulch, w**ding, and doing other tasks to beautify the Norris Commons. The volunteers included scouts and scout leaders, other community members, and Tree Commission members.

03/30/2026

Help beautify Norris and exercise your green thumb by joining the Norris Tree Commission members in cleaning up the Norris Commons on Saturday, April 4, at 9 AM. We will pick up tree fallen branches, pull w**ds, and spread mulch around trees. We recommend sturdy shoes and work gloves and look forward to seeing you Saturday!

03/17/2026

The intense storm early Monday morning took down one of the stems of a large, 2-stem hemlock tree on the Norris Commons near the library. The fallen stem had some decay near its base which also weakened its joint with the remaining stem. The remaining stem also has some decay near its base and has an increased risk of falling. Consequently it will soon be cut. We are also cutting down the large old sugar maple on the opposite side of the Commons. This tree, probably planted in the 1930s by TVA, has been declining for some time.

03/13/2026

This invasive shrub is pretty common in the Norris area. Small, single stemmed plants can often be pulled by hand. Larger plants can often be pulled with a w**d wrench, although it can be difficult to get a good grip with the w**d wrench on plants with numerous stems. Try cutting the stems near their base and painting the stumps with herbicide. They may require retreatment for a couple years. And wear long sleeves and gloves - the spines on the leaf margins are sharp!

03/04/2026

Join the 47th Norris Arbor Day celebration at Norris Elementary School at 1:30 PM on Friday, March 6. The ceremony will include a student musical performance, recognition of the recertification of Norris as a Tree City USA (the first in the state!), remarks by Tennessee Division of Forestry, recognition of Clinton Utilities Board as a Tree Line USA utility, and announcement of the winners of the student Arbor Day poster contest. Each student will also receive a white pine seedling. Another long-standing tradition is the recognition of an Arbor Day honoree. This year's honoree is the Norris Lions Club for it 70 years of outstanding service to the Norris community. A Yoshino cherry tree, donated by Clinton Utilities Board, will be planted on the Norris Elementary School campus to honor the Norris Lions Club.

02/21/2026

The construction of the Norris Creamery Park is almost complete and the Tree Commission is preparing to plant more trees to beautify the area. We are planning a variety of trees to provide spring and summer flowers, fall color, and shade. If you are interested in sponsoring a tree to be planted in the area, please message us.

01/29/2026

Yesterday Tree Commission volunteers cleaned up fallen tree limbs on the Commons and a few other areas on city lands. The limbs were brought down by the weekend snow and ice. Most of them were from evergreen trees, including southern magnolias. Compared to other parts of Tennessee and some surrounding states, tree damage in Norris was comparatively light. The storm did knock down a tall pine tree along West Norris Road which fortunately did not damage anything when it fell.

01/18/2026

New Hampshire had its famous Old Man of the Mountain, a state icon for centuries. Norris also has an Old Man icon, the Old Man of the Oak. Check it out on a large southern red oak at the corner of East Norris Road and East Circle Road. It is best viewed from the East Norris Road side of the intersection. The burl used to be larger and rounder -- the human shape has emerged as decayed chunks of the burl have fallen off.

11/12/2025

We just planted another tree species at the Norris Commons Arboretum - an American holly (Ilex opaca). It is the "pure" species, which is hard to find at nurseries, and not a cultivar. The arboretum is currently designated as a Level 1 arboretum. But we now have over 60 different species, enough to qualify as a Level 2 arboretum. We will apply for this upgrade next spring.

10/29/2025

Thanks to everyone who visited the Tree Commission's table along the Norris Halloween Trail. And to this dinosaur who entered the drawing for the Halloween pumpkin tree (also known as persimmon tree).

10/18/2025

There are more environmentally friendly alternatives to raking your leaves to the curb for the city to vacuum up.

Mowing your lawn’s fall leaves instead of raking them is a simple way to help your yard and the environment. When you chop up dry leaves with a mulching mower, the small pieces fall between the blades of grass and break down naturally. This adds nutrients like nitrogen and potassium to the soil, which helps your grass grow stronger in the spring. It also improves soil health by feeding helpful organisms like earthworms and microbes. Mulched leaves can block w**d seeds from growing and help the soil hold moisture during dry weather. Plus, leaving some leaf cover in garden beds or under trees gives shelter to insects like butterflies and native bees that need a safe place to spend the winter. Just make sure the leaves are dry and not too thick—if they cover the grass completely, mow in layers or spread them out. This easy habit supports your lawn, saves time, and helps local wildlife thrive.

This message brought to you by the Tennessee Urban Forestry Council. For more information, visit https://tufc.com/. To become a member, click https://tufc.com/membership/.