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Healthy
Communities has worked with the citizens of the county to plant more than 2000
trees this spring. That brings the total tree planted by our volunteers to over
4000—that’s a lot of clean air for everyone! Many thanks to the wonderful
volunteers who helped with the endeavor.
Photos of 2005 Efforts
Heeling-In Seedlings
Heeling-In Seedlings
(page 2)
How to Host a Tree Planting
One month before planting...
Pick a Location:
Select an area at the edge of your property which you can mark as DO NOT MOW.
The greatest loss of seedling trees is Men With Mowers.
Look down at the soil. If the soil is wet in the spring plant water loving species like willow, river birch, sycamore or red maple.
If it's dry and gravelly plant dry species like oak, black walnut, hickory or sugar maple
Look up at the sun. If your area is shaded and protected, plant understory trees like dogwood or redbud
If your area is sunny, plant oaks, black walnut, black cherry, or crabapple.
Look up for power lines. If you've got power lines overhead do not plant tall trees.
Plant redbud, dogwood, or crabapples.
Find your volunteers:
Master gardeners
School groups
Church groups
Scout troops
Sports teams
Pick a date:
April and May are the best times for planting seedlings
One week before planting...
Gather supplies:
(If you want your volunteers to bring supplies let them know)
Shovels
Pitchforks (2 for mulch)
Wheelbarrows (2) for mulch and buckets of trees
Gloves (not required)
Gallon Milk jugs
Flagging tape
Film for taking pictures
Popsicles (shhh. These are a surprise)
Order mulch.
Day before planting...
Check soil and weather - do not plant if soil is wet. It destroys the soil structure.
Deliver mulch
Mow, if necessary
Fill water jugs and use them to outline the area of planting
Morning of planting...
Deliver Trees
Put seedlings in a bucket of water.
They should not be in water more than a couple of hours or they get root rot.
Set out mulch and tools
The Planting...
Meet with planters...
With school kids it helps to meet in a classroom to do some education first.
- Shovel safety
Demonstrate how shovels can cause injury. Always know where blade is whether behind, above, or in front of you.
Set down shovels concave-side down (demonstrate)
- Why we plant trees: This is a perk. It's a teachable moment. Let's use it.
- Shelter for birds and animals
(Note: A dead tree provides home for 10 times more creatures than a live one)
- Fresh air. Trees clean the air we breathe.
- Clean water. Trees slow down the force of rainfall thus allowing it to gently soak into the soil.
Trees' roots hold soil in place so it doesn't get washed into the rivers choking the fish
- Temperature control. A wooded area can be 10 degrees cooler in the summer.
A wooded area can be 10 degrees warmer in the winter.
- Food for birds, animals and people. Apples, pears, acorns, walnuts, cherries, etc...
- Social value. Patients whose rooms overlook trees heal faster. Cities with more trees have less violent crime
Neighborhoods with more trees have higher property values. Buildings with trees have lower utility bills
- How we plant trees:
- Pick your partner. It helps to work in teams of two.
- Pick your spot. Be sure you are one arms length from nearest neighbor.
- Dig a hole. Put dirt to one side. Do not step on it. You will need it later. When you step in your hole it should be up to your knee.
- Pick your tree. Be sure not to let the roots dry out while you are digging your hole.
- Hold your seedling in the hole. Roots should be down. Branches should be up. It helps. Be sure roots start right at the soil line.
If the roots are buried too deep, your tree may suffocate. If the roots are hanging out in the breeze, your roots may dry out.
- Push dirt back in around the roots. One person holds the tree steady. The other person moves the dirt.
- Tamp down the soil. Push gently on the soil around your tree to get rid of air pockets.
- Water your tree.
- Mulch your tree. 2-3 inches deep of mulch around the tree
Keep mulch 1/2 inch away from the
trunk.
- Tag your tree with flagging tape.
After the Planting...
Celebrate!
Planting trees must be a joy!
Serve up fresh water and popsicles.
Commemorate the day with pictures.
Take a nature walk.
Name your trees if you like.
The Year after the Planting...
These native trees often survive with no follow-up care.
But your trees will have better chance of success with a small amount of care...
- Water the trees once a week if it's a dry summer.
- If trees are flagged flagging tape must be removed or replaced each year to prevent choking.
Twenty years after Planting...
Come back to visit your tree.
Take pictures to compare how you both have changed.
Remember the old adage...
"The best time to plant a tree is twenty years ago. The second best time is now." |
