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Plant a Tree for Arbor Day
For more than 125 years, American Forests has been planting
trees to restore ecosystems, improve the environment, and
create a healthier planet for future generations to come.
This year, we invite you to celebrate Arbor Day by planting
a tree in your yard, in your community, or with American Forests.
To see a brief photo history of American Forests tree planting
efforts click here.
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Top 10 Reasons to Plant a Tree
Did you know there are at least 10 reasons why you should
plant a tree? From cleaner water to saving energy, trees are
very valuable to our everyday lives. You can be a part of
one of the biggest, most effective environmental movements
in the United States and around the world. Planting trees
in our Global ReLeaf Projects helps the environment for generations
to come.
To learn more about American Forests' top 10 Reasons, visit
http://www.americanforests.org/downloads/psa/10reasons-full-4c-noGR.pdf
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How to Plant a Tree
Thinking of planting a tree for Arbor Day? Learn how you
can plant a tree in your backyard with these step-by-step
rules of tree-planting.
- Plant your seedling as soon as possible. Prepare a planting area by turning the soil. Select an area where the seedling will have adequate space to grow into a full sized tree both above and below the ground. (Pay special attention to utility wires.)
- Place the root collar (the place where the roots join the stem) slightly below soil level.
- Settle soil with water to remove air pockets.
- Protect seedling from damage caused by feet, lawnmowers, pets, etc.
Don't Forget!
Plant your seedling as soon as possible - in cooler climates,
before the first frost. If first frost has occurred already,
then plant your tree indoors and transplant it once the chance
of frost is over.
Prepare a planting area where the seedling will have adequate
space to grow into a full sized tree both above and below
the ground. (Pay special attention to utility wires.)
Place the root collar (the place where the roots join the
stem) slightly below soil level.
Settle soil with water to avoid air space.
Protect seedling from damage caused by feet, lawnmowers,
pets, etc.
Planting trees around your home will conserve energy and
lower the cost of utility bills. Three well-placed deciduous
(leaf-losing) trees on the east, south, and west sides of
a home will shade it from summer sun and lower cooling costs
by 10 to 50 percent. In addition to saving money, this conservation
of energy directly translates to less carbon dioxide produced
at the generating plant that serves your house. Trees can
also produce savings in cold weather. Staggered rows of evergreen
trees on the northwest side of the house (or the side with
prevailing winter winds) will block harsh winds and lower
heating costs.
How to plant a tree seedling indoors (If weather precludes
outside planting):
Place seedling in a container that is at least 6 inches deep
and has several drainage holes.
Pack the soil around seedling, completely covering the root
collar.
Water well after planting and place seedling in a bright room;
direct sunlight is best.
Keep moist by watering as needed and transplant outside when
weather permits.
For more information about the best planting times in your
area, contact a local nursery.
For visual instructions visit http://www.americanforests.org/resources/howtoplanttrees/
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American Forests' Feature Creature: The Tree
Whether it is planting trees to increase habitat for wildlife such as grizzlies, salmon, Siberian tigers, or neotropical songbirds, or to stabilize denuded slopes, provide clean air and water, and repair burned forest ecosystems, the tree is one of the most important creatures on the planet.
They grow in all shapes and sizes, widths and heights, colors and climates, but they all have one thing in common--they are critical to life on Earth. Without trees, people couldn't survive. They provide food, shelter, oxygen, and even water.
Trees have been around for millions of years. Evidence of these early trees can be found in fossils and soil samples. The Ginkgo Biloba tree grew millions of years ago when Dinosaurs roamed the Earth, and still grows today.
Around 225 million years ago, during the Triassic Era, wood from the earliest trees were covered up by volcanic ash, volcanic mudflows, and sediments in lakes or materials washed in by violent floods-- prevented oxygen from reaching the wood, and the trees did not decay. Silica dissolved in ground water got into the individual cells and chemically effected them taking on a variety of forms; agate, jasper, chalcedony or opal. The common name for this reaction is "petrified wood." Other minerals that are mixed with the silica cause the beautiful colors. Iron Oxide stains the wood orange, rust, red or yellow. Macanese oxide produces blues, blacks or purple.
In the United States, the most famous petrified forest lies in northern Arizona, near the town of Adamant. It covers about 40 square miles which have bean set aside as the Petrified Forest National Park. Thousands of petrified logs may be seen lying about on the surface where water has washed away the rock in which they were buried. On the average, the logs measure 3 to 4 feet across and 60 to 125 feet long.
Want to learn more about trees? Visit American Forests online at http://www.americanforests.org.
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