Planting Trees on Arbor Day
Most holidays and celebrations have to do with the past. But Arbor Day looks toward the future. School children and adults alike look forward to the time when the trees they have planted tower over them. This year’s celebration in Tiffin took place on the lower level of Hedges-Boyer Park beside the ballparks opposite the YMCA. There, two large wooden signs show the names of citizens of Tiffin who have been honored by a tree planted in the Memorial Tree Garden. Two more trees were added to this grove of 80 trees on Saturday morning, April 28th.
Mayor Bernie Hohman addressed those assembled. He spoke of the progress that Tiffin has made in the past few years with the trees planted in the city boulevards and parks. Many dangerous, old and diseased trees have been removed and new trees have been planted. He urged any one who wants a tree planted in front of their house to call the city to arrange for a suitable size tree for fall planting.
Dr. Leon Putnam offered a prayer in honor of the occasion. One of the trees, a Capital Pear, was planted in memory of Dr. Frank Kramer. Frank’s widow, Hetty, came for the ceremony, looking frail but full of spirit. Many of our readers may remember Hetty as their children’s teacher in the 4th grade at Krout School.
Percy talked about the influence that Frank had had on his students at Heidelberg and how much he had meant to him and his teaching through the years.
The other tree, a Bald Cypress was planted in memory of Loyal Hetzel’s cousin, John Abraham Hetzel, who died this year. Loyal spoke of the many times his cousin had helped him plant trees. He had been the man on the ground helping Loyal who was up in a tree removing branches or cutting down a tree in sections. John’s father and mother, Ronald Hetzel and his wife, Kris were there for the ceremony. Loyal’s son, Shawn, who is ten, helped Loyal shovel dirt around the planting.
As we looked on, we learned a lot about planting trees in the proper way. Loyal, a Certified Arborist, showed us how the planting equipment of the city could dig a hole in about ten minutes with a cone shaped digger whose blades took one bite and a hole appeared the right depth for the tree. A little adjustment had to be done by hand with shovels to widen the sides. Loyal checked the depth of the hole against the depth of the balled tree with his shovel handle. The top of the ball, where the trunk begins to flare, must be level with the ground for best growth of the tree. Happily, when the tree was rolled into the hole, it was at the right depth and it didn’t have to be lifted out again.
The tree came with wire and burlap around it, and after the tree was in the hole, Loyal carefully clipped the wire off and removed the burlap. He said it was important to remove the wire because it could at some future time crowd the roots so that they become choked. The burlap was removed because it would wick water to the surface and not allow the tree enough moisture. The tree was checked from all sides to be sure it was straight. Then he filled the hole gently but firmly to eliminate air pockets. It is not advisable to add fertilizer when the tree is planted, but in following years Loyal recommends the spikes or tablets because they are long acting.
He stressed the importance of thoroughly watering the tree at the time of planting and regular watering at least once a week, barring rain continuing until mid fall. This should continue for about two years,
The tree site was then covered with aged mulch to a depth of three inches. Loyal said that if you stick your hand into the mulch and it comes above your knuckles, it is too deep. ; At the seam between the hole and the surrounding grass he heaped up the dirt and mulch to conserve water for the first year. After that, if it hasn’t settled, it should be leveled off. Mulch should be raked away from the trunk of the tree. An area of two to four inches left bare next to the trunk will prevent decay of the bark.
Loyal stressed that the first thing to consider when planting a tree is its location. We must consider if the space is adequate for the width and height of the tree when it is grown. Also, the type of soil and its drainage is important. . He was delighted to find that water had shown in the hole for the Bald Cypress because it is a tree of wet lands, even growing in swamps.
Some of our younger readers might wonder how someone who likes to work outside might become a Certified Arborist. After studying for several years, a candidate must take a Proficiency test through the International Society of Arbor Culture. There are ten categories to the test. Loyal has worked for the city of Tiffin for five years. At first, he worked for Bill Sowers Tree Service and then for thirteen years, he operated his own tree service in Tiffin.
We hope that some of our readers will take advantage of the beautiful spring weather we are having to plant trees. It is still not too late although it is better to plant them in dormant condition.
– Mary