Cooperative Living July 2020 - 20

GreenThumb | by Derrill Holly, Contributing Writer
Plant More Trees
for a Greener Future
Trees take time to grow, but with proper
care, they become a living air purifier
lanting trees is an investment in the future. Beyond the
obvious benefits of providing shade and enhancing the
natural beauty of our surroundings, trees help improve
our communities and our world in an abundance of ways,
including many that we might not immediately notice.
While it is often easy to see the trunk, branches and leaves
of a tree, it might surprise you to learn that root zones are
often two to four times the diameter of the crown. Those root
systems help hold and aerate the soil, filter groundwater and
allow the trees to draw in chemical nutrients that otherwise
could leach into the environment.
Decaying leaves, needles and other tree debris help enrich
the soil, providing nutrients for grasses, corms and other
vegetation. This mélange of organic matter described by
scientists as the " soil food web " includes a huge chunk of
the world's biodiversity.
According to researchers at the U.S. Department of
Agriculture, millions of species and billions of organisms,
including bacteria, algae, microscopic insects,
earthworms, beetles, ants, mites and fungi can
flourish in organic soil.
" The best soil on most farms is found in
the fencerow, " USDA officials say, citing its
undisturbed properties. " It's crumbly, dark
and loose, and it's a model of soil structure
and organic matter for farmers who are
trying to make their soil healthier. "
TREES MAKE A LASTING
DIFFERENCE
Trees take time to grow, but with proper
care, after a few good seasons, a mature tree
becomes a living air purifier. According to
the Arbor Day Foundation, a mature tree
can absorb 120 to 240 pounds of particulate
pollution every year. They reduce atmospheric
sulfur dioxide and hydrocarbon emissions and
absorb heavy metals.
And when it comes to trees, bigger is better.
The experts say large mature trees absorb 60 to
70 times more pollution from the environment
than smaller trees.
1.
4.
LET'S PLANT MORE
The Arbor Day Foundation has set a
goal of planting 100 million trees worldwide
by 2022. The organization hopes to enlist
18 | Cooperative Living | July 2020
5.
2.
3.
For more tree-planting tips and information,
visit arborday.org.
GRAPHIC COURTESY OF ARBOR DAY FOUNDATION
co-opliving.com
6.
P
5 million new tree planters, urging them to plant trees at
home, participate in community tree-planting projects and
support reforestation programs wherever they are needed.
Trees 6 to 8 feet tall, planted around a home or building,
can shade windows during their first year. Within five to
10 years, they can also help shade rooflines, reducing cooling
costs and energy use. Dense evergreens can serve as
windbreaks, diffusing frigid breezes.
A local nursery or your county agricultural extension
service can make recommendations on the best trees for your
landscaping based upon growing conditions, space and
design goals. ■
Derrill Holly writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the
National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.
Six things you should know
when planting a tree
1. Call before you dig - Several days before planting,
call the national 811 hotline to have underground
utilities located.
2. Handle with care - Always lift tree by root ball.
Keep roots moist until planting.
3. Digging a proper hole - Dig two to five times wider
than the diameter of the root ball with sloping sides
to allow for proper root growth.
4. Planting depth - The trunk flare should sit slightly
above ground level and the topmost roots should
be buried 1 to 2 inches.
5. Filling the hole - Backfill with native soil unless it's
all clay. Tamp soil gently to fill large air spaces.
6. Mulch - Allow 1 to 2 inches clearance between
the trunk and the mulch. Mulch should be 2 to 3
inches deep.
100 MILLION
TREES
planted worldwide
by 2022
- Arbor Day Foundation
http://www.arborday.org http://www.co-opliving.com
Cooperative Living July 2020

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