#33 Plant a Tree
I started as a Trainee with the Tree Stewards of Arlington and Alexandria in October 2018 to learn about local tree species, invasive species, tree planting, pruning, and care. I will also be volunteering with them for tree plantings, park and school cleanups, and community outreach for 30+ hours per year.
After three classes indoors, on October 20, 2018, we finally made it outside to Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington to learn to plant trees. The cemetery is working on getting level 1 arboretum status, so the Tree Stewards are helping them survey, tag, and plant trees throughout the grounds.
Firstly, the best time to plant is in the fall (or very early spring) so that the trees roots can grow and settle in over the winter and be strong and ready to bloom by spring.
Today started with a safety briefing (no joke - I got whacked in the face by a rose bud tree someone was carrying today!) and a group lesson on planting a small tree. You should dig a hole three times the diameter of the root packaging and just deep enough to cover the start of the roots. The hole should be teacup shaped. Unpack the tree roots from the container and tease them out a bit, making sure that they are not spiraled around themselves and that they can grow out in every direction.
Place the tree and make sure it is straight from every angle - if not, dig or build up the dirt underneath it as needed. Fill the hole back in, and use upside down grass clods to create a bump perimeter around outside of the hole - this helps capture rainwater and direct it to the growing roots. You also do not want grass growing up to the truck of the tree because then the tree roots will have to compete with the grass for water and nutrients.
Water all over the dirt of the filled hole, not just right the base of the tree, so that all the roots can get some. Add three inches of mulch, keeping the bowl shape intact for rainwater capture as well as keeping the mulch inches away from the trunk to prevent the decomposing matter from rotting the base of the tree. Finally, step back and enjoy! And come back to check on it some time :)
At the end of the planting, we tidied up the tree sites, particularly where grave markers got dirty, and hosed off the shovels and tarps. We also learned the benefits of having bananas for snacks because the peel protects the actual snack from all the dirt on your hands! Altogether, the Trainees planted 10 trees today.
I'm excited to put all of this new knowledge to the test starting tomorrow at another tree planting event at a local school. That will be the first three of my 30 hour annual community service requirement, and I'll try my best to keep track of how many trees I end up planting this decade.
Importantly, I also learned today that tree planting is hard work - I came right home and fell asleep on the couch!
Item 33 Completed 10/20/18
5/41 items complete = 12%
After three classes indoors, on October 20, 2018, we finally made it outside to Columbia Gardens Cemetery in Arlington to learn to plant trees. The cemetery is working on getting level 1 arboretum status, so the Tree Stewards are helping them survey, tag, and plant trees throughout the grounds.
Firstly, the best time to plant is in the fall (or very early spring) so that the trees roots can grow and settle in over the winter and be strong and ready to bloom by spring.
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| Me with my first planted tree, Cyrus the Cypress |
Today started with a safety briefing (no joke - I got whacked in the face by a rose bud tree someone was carrying today!) and a group lesson on planting a small tree. You should dig a hole three times the diameter of the root packaging and just deep enough to cover the start of the roots. The hole should be teacup shaped. Unpack the tree roots from the container and tease them out a bit, making sure that they are not spiraled around themselves and that they can grow out in every direction.
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| Tree planting lesson time! |
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| Double checking the hole width and depth before cutting open the container |
Place the tree and make sure it is straight from every angle - if not, dig or build up the dirt underneath it as needed. Fill the hole back in, and use upside down grass clods to create a bump perimeter around outside of the hole - this helps capture rainwater and direct it to the growing roots. You also do not want grass growing up to the truck of the tree because then the tree roots will have to compete with the grass for water and nutrients.
Water all over the dirt of the filled hole, not just right the base of the tree, so that all the roots can get some. Add three inches of mulch, keeping the bowl shape intact for rainwater capture as well as keeping the mulch inches away from the trunk to prevent the decomposing matter from rotting the base of the tree. Finally, step back and enjoy! And come back to check on it some time :)
 |
| My tree planting team today with the finished cypress - the prettiest tree out there! |
At the end of the planting, we tidied up the tree sites, particularly where grave markers got dirty, and hosed off the shovels and tarps. We also learned the benefits of having bananas for snacks because the peel protects the actual snack from all the dirt on your hands! Altogether, the Trainees planted 10 trees today.
 |
| The row of 10 trees planted today by Tree Steward Trainees |
I'm excited to put all of this new knowledge to the test starting tomorrow at another tree planting event at a local school. That will be the first three of my 30 hour annual community service requirement, and I'll try my best to keep track of how many trees I end up planting this decade.
Importantly, I also learned today that tree planting is hard work - I came right home and fell asleep on the couch!
Item 33 Completed 10/20/18
5/41 items complete = 12%
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