“If 100,000 Americans planted one tree per year for 10 years, the trees would be absorbing more than 10 million pounds of carbon dioxide on their 10th anniversary. Once it has matured, a tree will consume nearly 15 pounds of carbon dioxide every year”.
--Thom R. Haret
“How You Can Help Save Our Planet”
- Do some research:
You have to make sure that the tree you want to plant is compatible with your climate or it may not survive. You also should take the tree’s future size into consideration. Does it have enough room to grow?
- Digging the hole:
The hole should be made big enough to give the roots plenty of room to spread out. Make sure that the soil is fertile and has adequate drainage. If the young tree needs a stake to help support it, now is a good time to stand it in the hole. Most people obtain young trees from a nursery. It takes a lot of effort to grow a tree from a seed.
- Planting the tree:
Carefully place the tree into the hole, spread the roots out, and cover them with topsoil. Subsoil can be placed at the top of the hole. The best time to plant trees is in the fall, winter, or early spring. Try to keep the roots moist before planting.
- Aftercare:
It takes approximately one year for the tree to become fully rooted, so watering moderately is imperative. It’s a good idea to keep the trunk wrapped in burlap to protect it from insects and sunburn for the first two years. Pruning of the lower branches is recommended to improve the shape of the tree. (Just be careful not to remove too many).
“American Forests” magazine reports that “Deforestation condemns at least one species of bird, mammal, or plant to extinction daily”.
For further information and resources, you may want to visit the
National Arbor Day Foundation.
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