Why everyone can and should participate in Arbor Day
Arbor Day is a holiday that encourages everyone to plant a tree, but you can plant a tree at almost any point of the year. Trees have numerous environmental benefits.
Arbor Day is America’s oldest environmental holiday and celebration. It is celebrated on the fourth Friday in April every year.
It is a tree-planting holiday that was founded in Nebraska in 1872. It was created to encourage people to plant trees in Nebraska, as it was largely a treeless state.
More than 1 million trees were planted on the first Arbor Day. The holiday has since grown, and it officially became a national holiday in 1972, according to the Arbor Day Foundation Program Director Dana Karcher.
(Facebook/Arbor Day Foundation)
Trees have numerous positive environmental impacts.
Trees clean the air.
Trees absorb carbon dioxide and create oxygen. One acre of forest can absorb six tons of carbon dioxide and can put out four tons of oxygen. This is enough to meet the annual needs of 18 people, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Trees also help to lower air temperatures.
The net cooling effect of a young and healthy tree is equivalent to 10 room-size air conditioners that operate 20 hours per a day, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Trees can also be strategically planted to shade patios, sidewalks and driveways and cool the concrete, the entire yard and even the neighborhood.
Trees help save energy.
Strategically planting trees can promote less energy use, which translates into few power plants in communities, according to Karcher.
Strategically placed trees can help you save up to 56 percent on annual air-conditioning costs, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
"Large deciduous trees planted on the east, west, and northwest sides of your home create soothing shade from the hot summer sun and reduce summer air conditioning costs by up to 35 percent," according to the Arbor Day Foundation website.
The Arbor Day Foundation website provides more detailed tips on how to plant a tree to save energy.
Trees absorb and filter storm water, allowing for significant water savings and cleaning.
“Trees are one of the easiest ways to make our world a better place to live. They provide meaningful environmental benefits, increase our property values and provide homes for animals,” Karcher said.
There is nothing more satisfying than seeing a tree grow to be all that it can be for your community, according to Karcher.
It is best to plant trees in the late spring or early fall in cooler climates and late fall through early spring are the best times in warmer climates.
Depending on climate, there are different species of trees that work best.
For example, a California Redwood is a great tree for coastal, moist locations. It needs plenty of water, so it will not survive in an arid climate, according to Karcher.
A local nursery or a Certified Arborist will be able to provide good information about the best species for the climate.
"Planting trees is easy. It is a matter of digging a hole that is the right size, treating the new tree with some special care and assuring that it is taken care of after the planting. Anyone can participate," Karcher said.
However, if working with children, avoid species that have thorns or sharp needles.
TreePeople volunteers Josh Landau, left, and Dante Osorio place mulch around a tree at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center Martinez Arena in Griffith Park in Los Angeles, Friday, July 31, 2015. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)
In order to plant a tree, you will need a shovel, a water source and strong muscles if the tree is big. It helps to have an extra pair of hands, so invite a friend, Karcher said.
If planting a ball and burlapped tree, wire cutters will also be needed.
The tree may need to be staked. When purchasing the tree, ask the nursery personnel to provide information on staking. The stakes and ties needed can often be obtained where the tree is purchased.
Most people have the supplies in their garage. If not, a local nursery should have all the supplies, according to Karcher.
Prior to planting a tree, it is important to know that trees come one of three ways from the nursery: bareroot, balled and burlap, or containerized.
These trees have similar planting instructions but vary slightly. The Arbor Day Foundation provides more detailed information on how to plant each tree type.
Newly planted trees have a very high survival rate, as high as 95 percent in their first few years.
"If they are not planted too deeply, kept watered, protected from mowers and string trimmers, and it’s the right tree for the right place, they will survive," Karcher said.
There isn’t much to do daily but to keep an eye on your new tree. You can make sure that it is remaining healthy by watering and mulching.
Water your tree enough that the soil is kept moist but not drenched.
Maintain mulch around the tree, so that moisture is retained. Additionally, a mulch ring helps keep mowers and string trimmers away from the trunk of the tree, where it can be damaged.
If you staked the tree, remove them when the tree can stand on its own, according to Karcher.
For more information on how to celebrate Arbor Day, visit celebratearborday.com. Visit arborday.org to find out which trees are best to plant in your area.
