Climate for Action: Add Some Green to Your Community and Plant Some Trees
Posted on May 12th, 2009 - 3:00 PMAbout the Author: Michelle Gugger graduated from Rutgers University in 2008. She is currently spending a year of service at EPA’s Region 3 Office in Philadelphia, PA as an AmeriCorps VISTA.
One of the best things you can do for the environment is plant trees. Trees have so many environmental benefits. Trees produce oxygen, reduce air pollution, save energy, reduce storm water runoff, prevent soil erosion, provide wildlife habitat and reduce carbon from entering into the environment. Trees also add beauty to the environment! Many people plant trees because it makes their lawns look nicer. People also travel from all over the world to see trees located in our national parks, preserves and old growth forests.
If you’re interested in planting trees in your city or neighborhood to add to its beauty or help protect the environment – here’s how you can start:
- Call your local horticultural society or local nursery. They can tell you what trees are best suited for the area. Your local horticultural society may also be able to tell you if there are any free tree programs in your area.
- Talk to your friends and neighbors about becoming involved in the planting process. It’s an easy process and can be a lot of fun too! But, be sure you contact a governing official if you are not planting the trees on your own property.
- Don’t forget to take care of the trees once you plant them. Trees need some care during their first couple of years which includes watering, mulching and supporting the tree to stand up vertically.
Now that it is spring, it is the perfect time to get out and plant a few trees. Planting trees is always a good time and it would also be a great way for you to become a climate ambassador in your community. Planting just one tree will reduce 13 pounds of carbon from entering into the atmosphere in a year. And, the more you can plant, the bigger impact you can make in reducing carbon!! Do you want to plant more trees in your community? Be sure to tell us why and what plans you will want to make.
Tags: Climate for Action, trees
| Permalink | TrackBack
Subscribe to this blog's feed
Follow us on Twitter
Question of the Week
May 12th, 2009 at 3:49 pm
It is going green in the town where i am currently living so far.
Far away, where i grew up i could image that they are going black there, that is where i have to add my action.
[Reply]
Michelle reply on May 14, 2009 10:24 am:
Great! I’d be interested in knowing what types of green changes your town is making.
[Reply]
May 13th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Last year I purchased some land more just for a place to go and relax. Well I couldn’t just leave 20 acres in grass so I decided to plant Pecan and English Walnut trees. So far I have planted 440 Pecan trees and only 10 English Walnut trees. I’m looking for English Walnut seeds from the North , Northeast. As I still have 15 acres to plant to trees.
[Reply]
Michelle reply on May 14, 2009 10:27 am:
Trees add a lot of beauty to an empty area. This sounds like a nice place to go and relax at!
[Reply]
May 14th, 2009 at 5:47 pm
Anyone know of Grants that communities can get to maintain trees?
Many don’t have budgets for cutting lower branches that often get hit by trucks when they stretch out into the streets. If the street trees can be thinned out they might be able to have wind pass through them and not blow them over during storms. They also need to cut the dead/dieing braches througout the tree at the proper spot at the collar so they’ll heal properly.
[Reply]
May 15th, 2009 at 8:48 am
You may want to contact the master gardening program in your county. Master gardeners are required to do some volunteer time and are very skilled in their trade.
[Reply]
May 18th, 2009 at 8:18 am
Planting trees is a wonderful way to enhance a community, but I’ve learned an important (and sometimes expensive) lesson over the years: if you live in an area with hot summers, it’s best to plant your new trees in the autumn. Here’s why:
1. Young trees need a lot of water. In the blazing summer heat, that water evaporates faster, so the trees need even more water–this is a strain for the trees, you, and perhaps the community water system if droughts and water restrictions are a problem in your area.
2. The summer season is when the tree is most actively growing, putting out leaves, possibly flowers, increasing in height, etc. All of that demands a lot of energy, which is delivered by a healthy, well-established root system … which newly planted trees don’t have yet.
If you plant your trees in the early fall, they have the rest of the fall and winter to develop that strong healthy root system *before* they have to do any other growing. Since they are mostly dormant other than at the roots, they need less water, and winter rains can help provide it. That way, when spring comes, the trees are already well-established and ready to do some serious growing.
[Reply]
Michelle reply on May 18, 2009 3:39 pm:
If your plants are not getting enough water in the summer and you can’t get around to watering them - you may want to purchase a water ring. I believe this website has a few sellers for water rings http://www.waterring.com/vendorlinks.html
[Reply]
October 2nd, 2009 at 12:52 pm
Yes!
Please plant a tree.
We need modern day Johnny Appleseeds.
The more trees we have the more vibrant fall colors there will be each year.
[Reply]
November 4th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
I have practiced Guerrill Gardening not far from our residence. Two
trees for the environment.
ON the other hand I publish http://endemismotrasnochado.blogspot.com/ a creative horticultural
criticism blog, on all possible related issues in Puerto Rico, USA and else.
With over one hundred species identified with their botanical names
in our residence and watching what goes on daily.
[Reply]
November 11th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
Over here in Malaysia, most of us love having variety of plants surrounding the house. It’s beautiful scenery when you walk around the village area. Some areas have paddy field, the scenery is just breathtaking……
[Reply]