Happy Trees Make a Healthier And More Beautiful World
NYC Anti Crime Tree Giveaway is in Astoria this weekend. For time and place click here.
Here are a few tips to help your new tree survive in the city.
Welcome Home: Give your new tree a good home. A hole that is two to three times wider but no deeper than the tree's root ball is a great start. Be sure to plant your new tree right away so the roots won’t dry out.
Good Dirt Pays: Soil that is hard and compact means roots can’t breath. Before planting your new tree, loosen the soil with a shovel or gardening tool. Add mulch, peat moss or other organic material to help soil breath, keep in moisture and slow soil compaction.
Quench: Water is critical for young trees, especially newly transplanted trees. Take extra care watering especially during dry spells.
Unwelcome Deposits: Leave behinds by our furry friends add unhealthy elements that hurt not only our young trees, but add bacteria to groundwater as well. Try and keep your tree's home (the tree pit) litter free.
Tree Vitamins: Fertilizing during a young tree’s first year is critical. Fertilizers help young trees become strong and establish themselves. Time released fertilizing sticks (and other fertilizing choices) are available in nurseries and suppliers such as Home Depot.
A Trim: Pruning helps trees stay healthy and beautiful. www.tcia.org has the Tree Care Industry’s standards for pruning and tree care available online.
Location is Critical: Visualize the amount of space your new tree will needs as it grows tall. Think of power lines, driveways and structures that might make a particular location inappropriate. Ask what sunlight requirements your tree selection will need.
Easy on Herbicides: Applied at the right time and in the right amount – pesticides used properly can help tree fight pests. Improperly used, herbicides can damage your tree, cause unhealthy runoff into groundwater, and affect pet and human health. Be sure to carefully review the label warnings and follow the instructions for application carefully.
Accidents Can Happen: Debris, cars, storms and even lawnmowers can cause bark damage and wound a trees. One can avoid tree wounding by planting them in sheltered locations or by providing a barrier. Check for bark damage and treat it promptly.
Trees clean our city air, cool our summers on a hot day, provide lovely shade, help control water runoff in a big storm, homes for birds as well as ever changing beauty throughout the seasons. Treat your tree with care and it it will give back 10 fold.
