Arbor Day: A Time To Honor Trees

By Nancy K. Crevier

Arbor Day, celebrated nationally on April 27 and celebrated April 30 in Connecticut, is a day set aside to pay homage to the large plants that populate our planet, producing oxygen and removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere 24/7: trees.

National Arbor Day was first celebrated on April 10, 1872, when Julius Stern Morton, a Nebraska journalist and politician, decided it was time to increase awareness of the importance of trees. He popularized windbreaks created from rows of trees in the flat landscape of the plains state, and from there, the celebration of trees gradually spread to all 50 states. In 1970, President Richard Nixon designated the last Friday in April as National Arbor Day. Most states honor other dates in April, too, more suited to the climates of the individual states.

There are more than 23,000 kinds of trees in the world. They provide food, prevent soil erosion, give shade, supply wood for building, are a source of shelter and nourishment for numerous birds, bugs, and animals, and are a delight for the eye. Trees, it turns out, also play a part in moderating ground temperature, a crucial piece in regulating global warming.

As Arbor Day approaches, it is an opportune time to consider the health of the many trees used to landscape yards and parks.

Arbor Day, being in the early spring, is the perfect time for people to get out and take a look at their trees, said Chris Donnelly, urban forestry coordinator in the state Department of Environmental Protection Division of Forestry. “Look at the tree from top to roots; inspect the whole tree,” he recommended.

At root level, look for signs of soil compaction and any damage to exposed roots. Mushrooms growing on the roots are not desirable, although it does not always indicate a problem. Check that the flare, or sweep, of the roots has not been covered over.

“A four to six-inch cover of mulch around trees is good, but don’t ‘volcano’ mulch the roots. The flare should be visible,” said Mr Donnelly.

Moving upward, examine the tree trunk for damage or injury. Boring insects and other pests can sometimes be spotted when the trunk is inspected and problems can be headed off. With leaves off of the tree, springtime offers the ideal time to see the structure of the tree, as well. “Excessive, large deadwood is always a concern, and should be removed,” he said. Any branches that are rubbing against each other should also be removed in order to avoid serious harm to the tree. This is where a professional arborist can be helpful, said Mr Donnelly.

Young trees can also benefit from the ministrations of a professional. “The best thing a homeowner can do for a young tree is to help it to grow with appropriate pruning, and that is best left to a professional,” Mr Donnelly said.

Alan Potter is a local, licensed arborist. He not only plants and prunes trees for homeowners, but also provides care for trees when they are beset with disease or insect infestation.

“This time of year, if you have a favorite tree [in your yard], you do want to consider having it professionally fertilized,” recommended Mr Potter, explaining that in a natural environment trees form a symbiotic relationship with microorganisms that exist in the earth. “As properties are landscaped, and leaves are taken away each year and lawn is put in, the ground is depleted of the organic material in which the microorganisms live,” said Mr Potter.

Mycorrhizal fungi improve a tree’s ability to absorb minerals and water from the soil and rhizosphere bacteria help trees adjust to extremes in the environment. When those microorganisms are lost from the soil, trees suffer.

“We used to use a nitrogen, potassium, and phosphate fertilizer, but that can actually hurt large trees. It promotes growth, but it doesn’t strengthen the root system,” Mr Potter said. Professionals now prefer to inject rhizosphere and mycorrhizal fungi directly into the ground around a tree to improve the root system.

“Keep landscaped trees in a mulched setting,” he said, and be aware of droughts and how they can affect a tree long-term. “The effects of drought are not usually seen until two or three years later,” he warned.

Be careful, too, that the base of the tree is protected. When mowers and other lawn equipment damage the exterior of a tree, disease can set in. The care of specimen trees in particular is ongoing, said Mr Potter. When a tree starts to look unhealthy, it may already be too late to save it.

“Trees don’t usually die because of one thing,” he said. “It’s a variety of factors that add up over time.”

Both tree experts said that residents considering the installation of a new tree to their property in celebration of Arbor Day — or anytime — want to assess the property.

Mr Potter suggested that property owners be aware of the types of trees on their land, the maintenance they require, and the location of the trees, and also to keep those things in mind when selecting additional trees for landscaping. He also noted that ornamental trees are particularly susceptible to leaf fungus. “Homeowners should be aware of that before they buy and plant an ornamental tree. It’s expensive to maintain it properly.”

 “Think about where the tree will go,” said Mr Donnelly. “What size tree will be right for the space? How much sun is there? What are the moisture conditions? These are all questions that need to be addressed.”

 There are plenty of good choices that suit the Connecticut climate, though, said Mr Donnelly. To find a tree best suited to individual situations, he suggested the UConn database, hort.uconn.edu, as a valuable source of information.

Let Arbor Day be the impetus, but let every day be a day to care for trees.